Ozarks Healthcare Names Tonya Aaron Chief Nursing Officer

Ozarks Healthcare is pleased to announce the appointment of Tonya Aaron, BSN, RN, as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), further strengthening the organization’s commitment to exceptional patient care and nursing excellence.

Aaron brings more than 16 years of experience with Ozarks Healthcare, having served in a variety of clinical and leadership roles throughout her career. Her journey with the organization began as a bedside nurse and progressed through positions including charge nurse, clinical supervisor, manager, Director of Inpatient Nursing, and most recently, Director of Emergency Services.

“Stepping into the role of Chief Nursing Officer at Ozarks Healthcare is an incredible honor and a responsibility I do not take lightly,” Aaron said. “My journey with this organization began at the bedside, and the opportunity to now serve in this leadership role is both meaningful and humbling. I am passionate about supporting our nurses and caregivers and ensuring every patient receives compassionate, high-quality care.”

As CNO, Aaron will oversee nursing operations across the health system, focusing on workforce development, recruitment and retention, professional growth opportunities, and advancing quality, safety, and patient-centered care.

“Tonya’s extensive experience, leadership abilities, and dedication to our mission make her an outstanding choice for this role,” Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “She understands our organization, our employees, and our community, and she is committed to supporting our nursing teams while continuing to elevate the quality of care we provide.”

A native of the Ozarks region, Aaron said her connection to the community has been a driving force throughout her career.

“The people who walk through our doors are more than patients - they are my neighbors, friends, former classmates, teachers, and families I have known my entire life,” Aaron said. “There is a unique sense of purpose that comes from caring for your own community and knowing that the work we do makes a difference in the lives of those around us.”

Aaron said she looks forward to supporting and investing in Ozarks Healthcare’s nursing teams and helping create an environment where caregivers feel valued, empowered, and equipped to provide the highest level of care.

For more information about Ozarks Healthcare, visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Tonya Aaron, Ozarks Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)