Avera Queen of Peace will have a new regional president and CEO next year. Avera announced today that Doug Ekeren will transition out of the regional president and CEO role at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in the next year. Dr. Hilary Rockwell, the current chief medical officer at Avera Queen of Peace, will assume the regional president and CEO position in Mitchell on July 1, 2023. She has served as chief medical officer since March 2020. Ekeren will continue to serve as regional president and CEO of the Avera Sacred Heart region that includes the Yankton hospital and surrounding facilities. He has been CEO of Avera Queen of Peace since July of 2020. Ekeren and Rockwell will be working closely over the next nine months to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.