Rehoboth McKinley CEO Wayne Gillis Steps Down March 11; Board Begins Transition

Wayne H. Gillis will step down as president and CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, the primary non‑IHS hospital and integrated health delivery system serving Gallup and much of northwest New Mexico, effective March 11, the Board of Directors announced Feb. 11. The Board said Gillis has committed to work part-time until a new CEO starts to ensure an effective handoff.

The Board described the reason for Gillis’ resignation in the announcement, saying, "Gillis made this decision following the sudden loss of a close family member earlier this year and the ongoing need to be fully present in support of his family." Board Chair Maryann Ustick praised Gillis’ tenure, saying, "Wayne led RMCHCS during a critical period with integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to our mission. Under his leadership, the organization made meaningful progress in stability, culture, and operational performance. We are grateful for his impact and wish him and his family strength and peace." The Board has initiated its succession process and said it will provide updates as appropriate.

Gillis was appointed chief executive officer by the RMCHCS Board on Nov. 11, 2024 and began the role on Nov. 18, 2024. At the time of his hiring, Gillis said, "I am honored to step into the role of President and CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, Inc. With a strong commitment to healthcare improvement and a deep appreciation for community, I focus on making healthcare more efficient, compassionate, and team-centered. My guiding philosophy is built on the principles of servant leadership, valuing each team member, and striving for continuous improvement. I am passionate about ensuring every individual on our team feels empowered and valued. On a personal note, my wife and I share love for animals, and I find great joy in caring for our horses and dogs on our family farm."

Before returning to hospital leadership in 2024, Gillis served as Network CEO at Great Falls Healthcare in Great Falls, Montana, and spent eight years as CEO of the Executive Healthcare Operations Consultant Company, doing strategic planning and process improvement work for vendors and health systems. His career history, as reported when he was hired, also includes leadership roles in hospitals in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Arizona. Personal details reported with his appointment list his wife, Kathy, two grown children, and four grandchildren.

The Board’s Feb. 11 announcement was reposted by Gallup Sun Publishing on Facebook, where the post had recorded 28 reactions, 20 comments, and 7 shares at the time of capture. Public comments on the post ranged from questions about messaging to frustration over turnover; commenters included Hoss Allen saying, "How can you misspell ‘transition’ when you spell it right the first time?" Vanessa Duckett saying, "oh gosh another one," and Yvonne Unale-Sanchez asking, "Revolving doors where is the stability that Gallup and surrounding area are in need of ???"

Gillis has been publicly visible in the industry: a Founder’s Table episode posted Nov. 16, 2025 described him as leading "a powerful turnaround" at RMCHCS, and he participated in Becker’s Healthcare’s 2025 CEO + CFO Roundtable discussing rural healthcare challenges, cybersecurity, AI integration in revenue cycles, and long-term sustainability. The Board later published additional community communication on Feb. 19, 2026; RMCHCS leaders say they will continue the succession work and provide the community further updates as the search proceeds.