Pictured: Northwestern State University honored Natchitoches Regional Medical Center CEO Kirk Soileau with the Nth Degree in thanks for service to the university and the community. From left are Laurie Morrow, executive director of NSU’s Office Economic Development and University Advancement; Brittany Pajuluoma, associate athletic director for Sports Medicine and Senior Women’s Administrator; Jane Reffelt, government relations associate with Merchant McIntyre Associates; NSU President James Genovese; Soileau and his wife Marie, Dr. Aimee Badeaux, dean of NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health; Drake Owens, Genovese’s chief of staff, and Dr. Greg Handel, NSU’s executive vice president and provost.
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University presented the Nth Degree to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center CEO Kirk Soileau Wednesday to acknowledge his and the hospital’s support of the university, specifically for the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health and NSU Athletics.
The Nth Degree is a special honor conferred by Northwestern that recognizes individuals who have gone the extra mile in meritorious service to the university or the community.
“This is a special award that goes to a special individual who has shown phenomenal interest in Northwestern and service to Northwestern, being there for us and accommodating us and one we appreciate deeply,” said NSU President James Genovese at the surprise announcement Wednesday, which took place during a lunch for NRMC personnel.
“I do appreciate this, and it means a lot to me to be able to do the work we do with the university,” Soileau said. “This is a true partnership that began eight or nine years ago and, as they say, a rising tide floats all boats. The success of the university is also the success of Natchitoches Regional.”
Soileau has over 40 years of healthcare experience in the public, for-profit, not-for-profit and faith-based organizations and was the founder of an international healthcare consulting company traveling to over 21 countries. He joined NRMC as chief executive officer in 2013 and is responsible for all aspects of the NRMC’s strategic, clinical and financial direction.
The NRMC health system encompasses 216 beds comprised of an acute care hospital, assisted living and long-term care facility. The NRMC network includes 12 primary care, rural health, specialty and walk-in clinics serving Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn and Red River parishes. NRMC recently acquired the Northwest Louisiana Cancer Center to further expand access to care for the residents of the medical centers service area.
NSU and NRMC have several long-standing partnerships and professional services agreements. The hospital is the official sports medicine provider for NSU Athletics, which includes care for student athletes and spirit teams, and supports trainers in NSU’s sports medicine program. NRMC has provided significant sponsorship of major fundraising events for the NSU Foundation and Demons Unlimited and has several agreements in place to help NSU graduate more nurses and healthcare providers for the region.
Since Soileau joined NRMC, the health system has seen expansive growth in both in-patient and outpatient services and medical staff recruitment. Growing from annual patient touch points of 57,000 in 2013 to over 225,000 service encounters last year and net revenue growth from $23M to $100M over the same period demonstrates the outcome of the NRMC leadership teams focus on organizational performance. That focus centers on improving the patient experience, becoming a Top 100 Hospital and adopting the Baldrige framework as the organization’s business model, earning the Texas Quality Governor’s award in 2019 and 2022 along with being named a TOP 100 Safe Care hospital nationally three out of the last five years.
Before joining NRMC, Soileau was CEO for Oakdale Community Hospital, system CEO for Renaissance Healthcare Systems in Houston, Texas, and president and COO for Gulf States Health Services.
Soileau obtained a Diploma in Nursing from Charity Hospital School of Nursing, New Orleans; a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of St. Francis, Joilet, Illinois, and a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University, New Orleans. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a 2018 National Malcolm Baldrige Fellow.
Soileau was appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and subsequently re-appointed by Governors John Bel Edwards and Jeff Landry to serve on the Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners for the State of Louisiana. He is a board member for the LHA Trust Funds/HSLI/The Physicians Trust for Louisiana and is the past chairman of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Louisiana American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) State Chapter. He has served as board member-at-large for the Louisiana Hospital Association while currently serving on the LHA finance committee. Soileau has been an active Rotarian since 1998 and serves on the Board of Directors for Exchange Bank headquartered in Natchitoches.
“I’m humbled by this,” Soileau said. “I never expected anything like this and it’s really not about me but about our associates. I thank you for being here and being part of this.”
Information on NRMC is available at https://www.nrmchospital.org.