Kristi Blackhurst to depart for new role

After nearly 28 years with Asante, Kristi Blackhurst will be leaving our organization for an opportunity that will allow her to grow and expand her experience in health care leadership.

Kristi has accepted the position of chief executive officer at Oregon Surgical Specialists, a company closely affiliated with Asante. Her timeline for departure is somewhat flexible and she has provided enough notice so we can find an outstanding person to fill her role. Information about the transition will be made available when details are finalized.

Kristi started her career at Asante as a medical assistant in 1994. After completing her bachelor’s in nursing degree and becoming a registered nurse, Kristi worked as a staff nurse in the operating room at Asante Rogue Regional.

Her leadership trajectory includes charge nurse, clinical coordinator, manager and director before accepting the vice president of Operations position at ARRMC in 2015. The scope of her vice president role expanded in 2020 to include Asante Ashland.

Under Kristi’s leadership, ARRMC became the region’s only Level II trauma center and expanded procedural offerings to include robotic urologic, gynecologic and general surgery.

Most recently, Kristi led our efforts to open Asante’s new cancer center in Medford and expand the Spears Cancer Center in Grants Pass. Her work on these two projects vastly improves the way our patients receive care by consolidating outpatient cancer services in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Kristi has been a key member of Asante’s three physician co-management councils and has served as an Asante board member for the Surgery Center of Southern Oregon and the Cardiovascular Institute of Southern Oregon. She also serves as the governor-appointed executive representative for the Area Trauma Advisory Board for our region.

Kristi would like to express her thanks to so many at Asante who supported her career growth and development. She has a deep appreciation of Asante’s values, our commitment to excellence, and the teamwork and relationships that have helped make Asante a successful organization. She is grateful for the relationships built during her 28 years that will last a lifetime.

Please find the time to congratulate Kristi on her many years of service to Asante and wish her well in her future role.