Meet the leaders of our Kentucky Region
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Michael Yungmann, FACHE Michael Yungmann joined Mercy Health in 2017 as the president and CEO of Mercy Health - Kentucky and senior vice president of Mercy Health. Prior to joining Mercy Health, Yungmann served as hospital president with BayCare Health System in Clearwater, Fla., for three years. While with BayCare Health System, he focused on physician relationships, market development, service line growth and patient and employee satisfaction. In a previous position as CEO of Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg, Va., the hospital achieved HealthGrades 5-Star Ratings for Orthopaedic Services, GYN Surgery and Treatment of Heart Failure. He has healthcare leadership experience at hospitals in Florida, Virginia and Missouri, serving in various roles including CEO, Chief Operating Officer and Associate Administrator. He began his healthcare career as a physical therapist and has been director of Rehabilitation and other clinical services. Yungmann holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University and a bachelor’s of Health Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. |
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Brett Bechtel, MD Dr. Bechtel has been a practicing emergency medicine physician at Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital since 2014. He is also the medical director for Mercy Regional EMS and Carlisle County EMS and served as Lourdes Hospital’s president of the medical staff from 2019 through 2021. Before joining Mercy Health, Dr. Bechtel was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy for three years and served as assistant program director and emergency medicine physician at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 2012, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps as a physician and officer in charge at a Shock Trauma Platoon in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. Dr. Bechtel earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He earned his medical degree at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where he served as chief resident and instructor of emergency medicine. He is board certified in emergency medicine. Dr. Bechtel has oversight for Mercy Health’s Kentucky region, which includes Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. and Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital in Irvine, Ky. |
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Travis Drake, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Travis Drake is an accomplished nursing leader with over 20 years of experience in both clinical and leadership healthcare roles. He brings expertise in inpatient care, emergency services, and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, Travis has held key positions, including Director of Critical Care and Emergency Services, Interim Chief Nursing Officer, and Director of Cardiovascular Services, where he has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, team development, and a commitment to improving patient outcomes. With extensive experience across various healthcare institutions, Travis has played a pivotal role in transforming clinical services, leading multidisciplinary teams, and fostering a culture of excellence and patient safety. In recognition of his mentorship, Travis was awarded "Mentor of the Year" at Mercy Health Lourdes in 2013, a testament to his dedication to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Travis earned his Bachelor of Nursing from Murray State University and later completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Kentucky. He also holds Advanced Nurse Executive certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). |