By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

The former executive officer of St. Luke Hospital in Marion will step into a new role Aug. 7 as director of Central Kansas Entrepreneurship Center and assistant professor of business at Tabor College.

Jeremy Ensey announced his resignation from the hospital April 25, at the end of a lengthy hospital board meeting during which concerns about the hospital’s agreement with Lanning Pharmacy for prescription services under a federal program were discussed.

Although Ensey gave 90 days’ notice, he didn’t complete that time. He sought an amendment of his remaining contract at a board meeting June 27. The board declined, board member Jeff Soyez said.

Ensey, co-owner of the Historic Elgin Hotel in Marion along with his wife, Tammy, became chief nursing officer at St. Luke in October 2012 and was named chief executive in June 2014. He previously worked in nursing at Ascension Via Christi-St. Francis and at Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita.

“He coached high school soccer early in his career and was an adjunct instructor at Pratt Community College from 2010 to 2012,” Tabor communications specialist Adam Suderman said.

Ensey, along with Tabor president David Janzen, spoke to Hillsboro city council members at Tuesday’s meeting. The city has an agreement to fund the entrepreneurship center. Council members voted to provide $30,000 for the 2023 – 2024 school year with the expectation the center holds more public events.

The hospital board has reviewed resumes and interviewed applicants for the CEO position, Soyez said.

At a special meeting scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, board members will review qualifications of an applicant who most impressed them and consider extending an offer, Soyez said.

Hospital board president John Wheeler declined to answer questions on the search for a new administrator and instead referred questions to Soyez.