HSHS leaders Klay, Cornelius recognized on Becker’s Hospital Review 2026 list
Chris Klay
President and CEO Chris Klay of HSHS Southern Illinois Market and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, and Chief Administrative Officer Teresa Cornelius of HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, were recently recognized on Becker’s Hospital Review 2026 iteration of its “Rural hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know” list.
The featured leaders on this list are responsible for expanding the services their communities rely on, recruiting the talented caregivers who deliver that care, and investing in facilities via thoughtful renovations and ambitious new construction.
According to Becker’s, these executives wield an ability to manage complexity while genuinely investing in the people and places they serve. Their hospitals’ successes are measured in healthier neighbors, stronger communities and improved overall patient experience.
As the leader of the HSHS Southern Illinois Market, Chris Klay is responsible for four hospitals in the market, three of which are in rural areas with limited health care options. Besides leading HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, his divisional oversight includes HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.
Teresa Cornelius
At HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Klay is leading multiple growth initiatives to ensure St. Elizabeth’s can provide services to the growing communities they serve. He balances the needs of the local rural communities the hospitals serve along with the larger community of O’Fallon. Having started his career in HSHS in smaller rural communities, Klay relates to the unique needs of rural health care, ensuring that compassionate health care is provided to these communities close to home without sacrificing quality.
Teresa Cornelius is a dedicated leader known for her commitment to ensuring those who live in rural communities can still get high-quality, compassionate health care close to home, without having to travel to metro areas.
At HSHS Holy Family Hospital, Cornelius helped complete the renovation of the inpatient floors for the betterment of the healing environment for patients. At HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, she continues to ensure this critical access hospital provides localized high-quality, essential services to the rural area surrounding it, including access to emergency care and working alongside aligned physician partner HSHS Medical Group in their recruitment of multiple family medicine physicians and providers over the last year.
Klay and Cornelius were named to this list for the second year in a row. Also recognized consecutively on this list from Hospital Sisters Health System was Chief Administrative Officer Colleen Koski of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, Wis.
The full list featuring individual profiles of all 146 honorees can be read here.
For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
Note: The Becker’s Hospital Review team completed editorial research and accepted nominations to curate this list. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of included CEOs or associated organizations. Individuals and organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Names are presented in alphabetical order.
About Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS)
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a nonprofit Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to its mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Ill., HSHS colleagues provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in central and southern Illinois, and eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular, its partnership with Prevea Health, and with many other providers serving on medical staffs. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
About Becker’s Healthcare
Becker’s Healthcare is the go-to source for healthcare decision-makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry. Through print, digital and live event platforms, Becker’s Healthcare equips healthcare leaders with information and forums they need to learn, exchange ideas and further conversations about the most critical issues in American healthcare today.
