Ridge has spent 35 years as a registered nurse and began her healthcare career even earlier, working in various roles starting at age 14. Over the years, she has served as a certified nursing assistant, unit secretary, staff nurse, charge nurse, house supervisor, assistant manager, manager, operations director, chief nursing officer, and now chief executive officer.

“That experience gives me a strong understanding of how each role functions within the hospital,” Ridge said. “If you understand the roles of an organization, you can better lead the organization.”

As CEO, Ridge emphasizes shared leadership and collaboration, relying on her administrative and management teams when making decisions.

“I’m not a leader who is going to make a decision on my own and then tell my team what it is without their input — and most of our leaders here are the same way,” she said. “It’s really important for leaders to ask their teams what they need and empower them to speak up. We want to ensure we have a safe culture to do that, and ultimately, I think that’s what we’ve built here.”

The Top Workplace for Women-Led Organizations award holds particular meaning for Ridge because it came directly from VDMC employees through a confidential, research-backed engagement survey completed earlier this year.

“The fact that our team took the survey and decided that we are a very successful women-led organization is special for all of us,” Ridge said. “I think it shows the level of trust they have in leadership — and that they value our opinions just as much as we value theirs.”

Ridge also stresses that patient care extends far beyond clinical roles.

“We want every part of our organization to feel valued,” she said. “It’s not just those who touch the patients or prescribe the medicine; it’s patient access, business office, finance, marketing, dietary, housekeeping. Every department plays an important role in patient care and in giving back to our community.”

Over the past year, VDMC has earned numerous recognitions, including Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, a five-star patient satisfaction and overall experience rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and multiple Top Workplace honors.

“We celebrate those awards because they mean something to our frontline and ancillary staff,” Ridge said. “But ultimately, we don’t do this for the awards. We do what we do for our patients and our employees. We’ve spent the past several years working hard on our culture, making sure our employees feel heard and valued so they can continue delivering excellent, five-star care.”

That commitment to inclusive, values-driven leadership is reflected throughout VDMC’s leadership team. Alongside Ridge, five women leaders from across the organization bring deep experience, diverse perspectives, and a shared dedication to service, each helping to shape a workplace where people thrive and where patients come first.

Leading with experience and empathy: Chief Nursing Officer Amy McDonough

With 27 years in healthcare, eight of them at VDMC, Amy McDonough credits her bedside nursing experience with shaping the leader she is today. She has served as an Intensive Care Unit nurse, house supervisor, med/tele manager and ICU/Telemetry/Med director.

Drawing from her years at the bedside, McDonough says that hands-on clinical experience has given her a deeper understanding of the challenges staff face and has shaped her into a more effective and empathetic leader.

She believes flexibility, strong communication, and reliable follow-up are essential to supporting clinical teams.

“Leadership has its challenges,” she added, “but with good conversation, the ability to build trust, and strong interpersonal skills, success can be achieved.”

Leading with empathy and data: Chief Financial Officer Ashley Allers

For 14 years, Ashley Allers has grown with VDMC, moving from business office manager to Revenue Cycle director and Privacy and Compliance officer before assuming the role of Chief Financial Officer. Her credentials include fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives and multiple professional certifications including Certified Healthcare Financial Professional, Certified Revenue Cycle Representative, Center for Health Care Strategies, and Certified Revenue Cycle Executive.

Allers encourages women leaders not to underestimate their readiness or their power.

“Trust what you bring to the table and don’t wait until you feel ‘perfectly ready,'” she advised. “Building relationships and networking is critical. Keep learning and speak up for yourself. Lead with empathy and data, and challenge bias when you see it. Use your voice to make space for others. That’s how real change happens.”

Building relationships at the core: Human Resources Director Amy Porter

Human Resources Director Amy Porter celebrates six years with VDMC in January. She also worked for 14 years as the Human Resources Director at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. In between those two jobs, Porter served five years in a government human resources position and two years in manufacturing. She holds two respected certifications: Senior Professional in Human Resources and Society for Human Resource Management — Senior Certified Professional.

Her guidance for women aspiring to move into leadership is simple and practical: Build strong relationships and stay visible.

“It’s really important to build relationships with everyone, not just who you supervise or who supervises you,” Porter said. “Strengthen your communication and coaching skills and be visible, look for opportunities to make a positive impact.”

A career spanning care and technology: Senior Director Vickie Wickham

With more than 44 years in healthcare and over a decade at VDMC, Vickie Wickham’s career bridges two critical worlds: clinical care and healthcare technology. She began as a nurse, holding roles in cardiac and surgical intensive care, clinical education, and telemetry. Her path later led her into informatics and information systems, where she has served as an Electronic Health Record implementation specialist, clinical informaticist, regional chief nurse informatics officer and now senior director of Information Systems.

Wickham is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, is a Certified Critical Care Nurse, and holds Informatics Nursing Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Her advice to future leaders centers on authenticity and integrity.

“Be yourself,” Wickham said. “Be open to hearing others’ thoughts and ideas and strive to influence others with honesty and integrity.”

Elevating the organization through storytelling and strategy: Senior Director Lori Foster

With 23 years of healthcare experience, over 17 of them with VDMC, Lori Foster has played a pivotal role in shaping the hospital’s public presence and community relationships. She joined VDMC in 2008 as Foundation Coordinator, leading the highly successful building campaign for the replacement hospital that opened in 2010. That experience helped establish her as a key voice in both philanthropy and organizational communication.

With an education in business administration, marketing, and international business, Foster transitioned into the marketing director role prior to the hospital’s opening, while continuing to guide the foundation’s efforts.

Today, she serves as the senior director of Marketing and Public Relations, while also continuing in her dual roles as VDMC Foundation coordinator and VDMC Auxiliary liaison. Her work blends strategy, storytelling, and relationship-building, all essential to strengthening the hospital’s connection to the community.

Foster believes strong leadership in healthcare begins with trust and purpose.

“Healthcare leadership embodies dedication and a passion for improving lives. We are in the business of helping people; creating trust and building relationships are key to our success,” Foster said. “I believe in leading by example. This demonstrates your integrity and creates a space to foster trust and excellence.”

“This award exemplifies the emphasis we have placed on making connections with our communities and with each other, which ultimately has elevated our culture and delivery of care,” she added. “It’s an honor to have our work recognized on a national level.”

Together, these six leaders reflect the heart of Van Diest Medical Center — a culture grounded in trust, collaboration, and service. The Top Workplace for Women-Led Organizations recognition is more than an award; it is a testament to the relationships built across departments, the voices valued at every level, and a shared commitment to excellence in patient care. At VDMC, leadership is not defined by title alone, but by the daily actions that support teams, strengthen the community, and ensure every patient receives compassionate, high-quality care.