DATE: December 17, 2025 —FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Allison Gergley, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center
1000 Rush Drive, Salida, CO 81201 Email: allison.gergley@hrrmc.net
Tel.: 719-530-2217 Fax: 719-530-2232
HRRMC Appoints John Tucker as CEO
Salida, CO – The Salida Hospital District Board of Directors has completed its selection process for the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and has selected John Tucker for this role.
In accordance with C.R.S. § 24-6-402(3.5), the board established a Chief Executive Officer search committee, selection process and timeline that began on Aug. 26, 2025 and was completed on Dec. 16 2025, when the offer of this role was accepted by Mr. Tucker. The official CEO search committee included board members Bill Alderton and Dan Wardrop; Vice President of Human Resources Sarah McMahon; and former CEO Bob Morasko. Mr. Tucker has been with Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in the role of President since Jan. 2025.
“On behalf of the Salida Hospital District Board of Directors, we are thrilled that Mr. Tucker has accepted the role of HRRMC’s CEO,” shared board chairman Dean Edwards. “Salida Hospital District is in a unique position where the search and selection of its highest executive leadership position at the organization is subject to a rigorous process per C.R.S. § 24-6-402(3.5). We commend the CEO search committee for their extensive efforts in vetting and presenting candidate and finalist lists, and ultimately recommending Mr. Tucker to the Board of Directors for this competitive role.”
“Mr. Tucker joined the organization as President in January of 2025, and since then, he has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to seamlessly integrate into our culture. He has built strong, genuine relationships with our staff at every level across our main campus and outlying clinics, earning their trust through consistent engagement and open communication. During his short tenure, Mr. Tucker has brought several modernizations to our hospital – including robotics-assisted surgical equipment, and is leading the evaluation, selection and eventual implementation of a new, robust Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Beyond these additions, which will allow us to better serve our rural community, he has also been extremely involved with and successful in hiring key medical provider specialists, and the continued construction on our future Wound Care Center and building expansions. He has also shared a high level of transparency with this community—keeping our citizens informed, involved and confident in the direction of our organization. We are grateful for his leadership, and the integrity he will continue to bring to our organization in his new role,” continued Mr. Edwards.
"It’s an honor to step into the role of CEO for an organization that means so much to our community,” shared Mr. Tucker. “Over the past 11 months as president, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication of our staff and the trust our patients place in us. Getting to know our teams, learning more about their work, expanding access to quality care and investing in organizational expansion, modern tools and technology reinforces for me that our best foot forward starts with strong relationships and teamwork. I’m committed to continuing that progress by listening, leading with transparency, and always putting people first—our patients, our staff, and our community.”
Previous CEO Bob Morasko – who has been working in a part-time capacity since Jan. 2025 – will transition to a consultant role as of Jan. 1, 2026.
For more information, please call (719) 530-2217.
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