Ryan Speier, L.M.S.W. is the President of KVC Hospitals, a nonprofit psychiatric hospital system that each year serves thousands of children, adolescents and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and feelings of violence. KVC’s two psychiatric hospitals – KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, KS and KVC Wheatland Hospital in Hays, KS – offer acute/inpatient and residential psychiatric treatment.

Ryan began his career with KVC in 2007 as a therapist in inpatient, outpatient and in-home settings. In 2009, Ryan was selected to be Director of Administration at KVC Hospitals and later, Vice President of Administration. In that role, he oversaw the hospitals’ operations, strategic development and growth, fiscal accountability and quality assurance initiatives. He worked in collaboration with physicians and clinical teams to implement trauma-focused treatment modalities and led programs through accreditation and licensing surveys to maintain state and national standards. Over the last several years, Ryan has developed collaborative relationships with government agencies and other community stakeholders. Ryan also possesses a strong and innovative technology background which has helped KVC leverage technology across the medical and behavioral health environments to achieve improved population health.

Ryan earned his Master’s of Social Work degree at the University of Kansas.

He can be found on Twitter @Ryan_Speier and on LinkedIn. More information about KVC Hospitals is at www.kvchospitals.org.

Robert (Bobby) Eklofe is the Vice President of Behavioral Health Operations for KVC Hospitals. Bobby Holds a Masters of Health Care Administration from the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine and is a passionate professional with over 29 years working in the behavioral health field. He has worked in residential services, psychiatric hospitals, schools and community correctional settings. He has held positions in patient care, human resources, training, hospital administration and executive leadership. He has previously taught Crisis Intervention, Adventure Based Counseling and Anger Management for over fifteen years to children, mental health staff, teachers, police officers, juvenile detention staff, foster care parents, social workers, and other interested parties. He has served on many local and state stakeholder committees in Kansas to advocate for community behavioral health needs. Bobby has proven skills in forming positive relationships with all staff disciplines and colleagues, public and private partners and donors. He is recognized as a servant leader that operates with integrity and commitment for lives of the children, adults and families and other stakeholders served.

Astra Garner, L.P.C., L.C.P.C., R.P.T., serves as the Vice President of Clinical Advancement for KVC Hospitals, leading clinical operations for each of its three inpatient and residential facilities in Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; and Hays, KS. Astra brings strong clinical knowledge and expertise to KVC Hospitals, a private, nonprofit organization providing innovative, compassionate psychiatric treatment to thousands of children, adolescents and adults each year.

Astra began her career with KVC in 2009 as a therapist, working with children and adolescents in acute inpatient and residential settings. In 2014, she began serving as the Director of Clinical Services and Community Outreach at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, KS where she oversaw treatment implementation, interventions, program evaluations, and consultations. In 2016, Astra became the Vice President of Program Services for Niles, KVC’s residential treatment facility in Kansas City, MO. In this role, Astra ensured performance standards, developed program direction, and elevated therapeutic care. Then in 2017, Astra became the President of Niles and was essential to its revitalization.

With extensive experience in staff supervision, treatment, and client care, Astra has been an integral part of the growth of KVC, which serves thousands of children, adolescents and adults each year. She is also leading KVC Hospitals’ new Diversity and Inclusion initiative, driving leadership transformation, strategy, and mentorship efforts across their network of hospitals. In addition to her inpatient work, Astra has also held positions in community mental health centers, schools and managed care companies.

Astra completed her master’s in counseling and guidance with an emphasis in mental health from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In October 2018, she received her Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She serves as a member of the Family Advisory Board and the Intensive Care Nursery Patient-Family Advisory Committee at a local children’s hospital in the Kansas City metro area.

Dr. Vishal Adma, Medical Director, oversees medical services at KVC’s psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric residential treatment facilities.  Additionally, he provides psychiatric care to children and families.  Dr. Adma began working at KVC in 1999.

Dr. Adma uses a broad-based, multidisciplinary treatment approach to achieve KVC’s mission of providing the best possible medical and behavioral healthcare.  Dr. Adma acts as a liaison with community mental health centers, case managers and family members, and his vision for KVC is to continue expanding services so children and families can have the opportunity to receive essential specialized treatment.

Dr. Adma has Certification in Medical Quality, as well as a master’s in nutrition and food management.  He is an assistant professor in the University of Kansas Department of Psychiatry, serves as a hospital surveyor for The Joint Commission and is a diplomat for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Adma serves as the chairman of the board of trustees for the Telugu Association of Greater Kansas City.

Annmarie Arensberg serves as the Director of Clinical Operations for KVC Hospitals. She earned her LMSW at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Arensberg is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Kansas and has been with KVC since 2012. She has held numerous positions including therapist intern, social service liaison, weekend admissions coordinator, residential therapist, clinical manager of hospital admissions and utilization review. In her current role, she oversees the admissions departments for both KVC Wheatland Hospital and KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital and across all program levels along with overseeing the utilization review on the KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital campus and KVC Wheatland Hosptial campus. Arensberg also provides support to the clinical team as well as implementing employee engagement initiatives throughout KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital campus. Prior to working at KVC, she worked in the case management department at the University of Kansas Hospital as a social work intern. She has also been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Trauma Systems Therapy and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.

Peter Barndollar is the Director of Human Resources for KVC Hospitals. In his role, he oversees development and implementation of human resource initiatives to ensure fulfillment of the overall talent management needs of KVC; including the new employee experience, onboarding, training and development, and employee engagement. He is also on the Safety Management Committee.

Prior to joining KVC in 2013, Pete worked as a Division Operations Manager for one of the world’s leading staffing firms, overseeing strategic account management, compliance, and training for over 60 locations throughout the United States.

Pete is a graduate of Pittsburg State University. In his spare time, Pete volunteers with various non-profits, and serves on the Board of Directors of Hope Care Center in Kansas City, MO.

Bailey Bennett is Director of Nursing for KVC Hospitals where she creates strategic plans focusing on improving patient experience and increasing employee engagement. Bailey has been with KVC for four years and empowers our nursing staff to learn, grow and do what nurses do best—care for patients.

Before joining KVC, Bailey worked as a Registered Nurse in pediatric home health, long-term care, home-health case management, skilled nursing and telephonic nursing.

Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nursing Association (APNA), Kansas Organization of Nursing Leaders (KONL), Kansas Nursing Association (KNA) and American Nursing Association (ANA). Bailey also participates in advisory board committees for Kansas City area nursing schools and serves on the governing board of the Kansas City Healthcare Leadership Exchange.

“As soon as I walked through the door, I fell in love with KVC’s people and mission! I enjoy what I do because I come to work every day and have the ability to positively impact the lives of the families and children we serve.” – Bailey Bennett

Sara Schlagel serves as the Director of Program and Staff Development for KVC Hospitals. She earned her Masters of Social Work from Washburn University. Most recently, Sara served as the Program Director for KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital. Sara has also worked for KVC as a case manager, lead case manager and as training coordinator for KVC Permanency in Topeka and Lenexa. She has also been a supervisor within Community Mental Health Services in Kansas City, KS. Sara has provided training to new employees in Trauma Systems Therapy, Structured Decision Making, Case Manager Community Safety training and Safe and Connected. She is a certified trainer in Deciding Together, TIPS-MAPP, as well as 8 to Great.  As a licensed therapist, she brings with her experience in helping children and families engage in the therapeutic change process. Sara has led the Strengthening Families therapy groups for KVC’s outpatient programs for the last two years. She also has led KVC’s participation in the state wide initiative to battle human trafficking and exploitation of teens. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and is passionate about enhancing cultural competence within services provided at KVC.

Dr. Anh Vinh serves as the Director of Integrated Services for KVC Hospitals.  Vinh, who was previously on faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Med West), will focus on combining her physical health expertise as a family physician with KVC’s world-renowned behavioral and mental healthcare services.

Vinh is based at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. which each year helps thousands of children and adolescents who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and feelings of violence.

In addition to serving youth receiving acute and residential psychiatric treatment, Vinh will collaborate on outpatient physical health services provided to children and families involved in the Kansas child welfare system through a different division of the organization. This will allow KVC to move beyond assessments and meaningfully address long-term health issues in individuals and communities. Vinh will also enhance KVC’s health and wellness programs to improve clinical outcomes for both clients and employees.

As part of her role, Vinh will gather and disseminate information, both regionally and nationally, related to integrated healthcare and models of service provision; suggest clinical pathways to monitor health and wellness outcomes; provide guidance on the growth of technology platforms that prevent medical risks; and develop protocols influenced by evidence-based, best practice guidelines.

Fred Watts received his Masters of Social Work from the University of Missouri, and he holds his clinical license in both Missouri and Kansas. He has served in leadership roles in the Kansas City area as well as working as the director of outpatient mental health centers in Missouri. Fred Watts has been with KVC Hospitals for nine years, and currently serves as the Senior Clinical Consultant. He has trained in numerous areas over the years, most recently in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectic behavioral therapy.

Dr. Jyotsna Adma graduated from B.L.D.E.A.’s Shri B.M. Patil Medical College in Bijapur, India.  She completed her Fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  As a Child Psychiatrist at KVC Hospitals, Dr. Adma works with a wide range of patients, and lists her primary interests as childhood and adult ADHD, childhood mood disorders, and childhood anxiety disorders.  Her passion is providing the best possible psychiatric care to children and families.  Dr. Jyotsna Adma has been with KVC since 2006.

Dr. Srinivasa Panuganti is a psychiatrist at KVC Wheatland Hospital in Hays, KS. Full bio coming soon!

Dr. Raghu Reddy is a psychiatrist at KVC Hospitals. More information about his background and expertise coming soon!

Melissa Barkemeyer is the Advance Practice Registered Nurse at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital. Bio coming soon!

Jamie Lambotte serves as an APRN at KVC Hospitals.  More information coming soon!

James has worked for KVC Hospitals since 2004 and currently serves as the Executive Director of KVC Hospitals Kansas City. He is passionate about improving health outcomes for children and families through innovative, science-based treatments and uses his expertise in childhood trauma and positive behavior supports to strengthen KVC’s treatment experience and ensure it is positive, inclusive and trauma-informed.

James specializes in program development for alternative school settings, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment, and secure care programs and has administrative experience including oversight of inpatient and residential programming, performance improvement, innovation, special initiatives, and the implementation of evidenced-based practices.

He is a tier three national certified trainer for Trauma Systems Therapy and has completed the Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports facilitator course. His innovative approach in developing practices and hands-on tools to support the implementation of best practice approaches in classrooms and residential milieus has led to engagement in projects with various school districts, residential centers, detention centers and health systems throughout the U.S. and internationally. James earned a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Kansas.

Alicia Armstrong, M.A., L.M.F.T., has been with KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital since 2015 and serves as the Associate Director of Clinical Services. She earned her L.M.F.T. at Chapman University in Southern California and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Kansas. Alicia has served as a therapist for both the psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) and acute, inpatient hospital of KVC Prairie Ridge. In her current role, her responsibilities include overseeing clinical services and hospital therapists as well as implementing alternative therapies such as virtual reality, horse therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and recreation therapy. Alicia is trained in Biofeedback and performs Biofeedback therapy training for other therapists at the hospital. Prior to working at KVC, Alicia worked at Center for Discovery in Long Beach California treating adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorders and The Victorian of Newport Beach where she treated adults with eating disorders.

Brittany Kroeger is the Associate Director of Clinical Services at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital. She earned her Master of Clinical Social Work degree at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Kroeger is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Kansas and has been with KVC since 2012. She has held numerous positions at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. and KVC Wheatland Hospital in Hays, Kan., including Therapist Intern, Intake Coordinator, Hospital/Residential Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, and now as Associate Director of Clinical Services.

James Smith serves as an Associate Director of Program Services at KVC Hospitals Kansas City. More information coming soon!

Brynn Fowler started at KVC Hospitals in 2017 as a Milieu Manager overseeing direct care staff, KVC Academy, and our KVC Prairie Ridge Residential Program. In her current position as Associate Director of Program Operations for KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital, Brynn oversees facility operations as well as projects with the compliance and scheduling departments. Her oversight of these projects helps ensure a safe, therapeutic environment that accommodates the needs of the youth being served while meeting also licensing standards. Brynn also organizes all trainings for new employees and monthly in-service meetings for current employees of KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital.

Prior to working at KVC, Brynn worked in the behavioral health department at Arizona Children’s Association in Tucson, Arizona as a Program Supervisor and Department of Child Safety liaison for three years. She is trained in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Trauma Systems Therapy, as well as certified in National High Fidelity Wraparound. Brynn will also complete her Masters in Social Work from Capella University in 2019.

Audrey Lindenmeyer serves as KVC Hospitals Hays’ Program Director. Audrey has 17 years of experience in the mental health field, devoting the past nine years to KVC. As Program Director, she works with staff and outside contractors to ensure a safe environment and proper treatment for the children and teens we serve.

Prior to her current role, Audrey served as Hays’ Campus Supervisor and Associate Director, gaining beneficial expertise allowing her to succeed in her capacity as Program Director. Her past experiences provided Audrey the opportunity to master the numerous aspects of running a safe, trauma-informed treatment facility.

Audrey is trained and certified in Trauma System Therapy and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She is highly involved in the Hays community, contributing her time and expertise to the United Way of Ellis County and Leadership Hays. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Masters of Liberal Studies in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University.

“There’s no better sight than seeing a child succeed and overcome barriers. At KVC, we get to be the ones who help a child see the world differently—seeing them smile and hearing their laughter, we truly have the most rewarding job!” – Audrey Lindenmeyer

Taylor Ziegler is Director of Nursing at KVC Hospitals Hays. In this role, she oversees nursing and program services, directs all aspects of nursing and direct patient care, and coordinates with all other disciplines to provide the highest possible quality of care. She also ensures maintenance of quality improvement activities to adhere to KVC’s policies and procedures along with the regulations and standards provided by KVC’s regulating bodies.

Taylor began her career with KVC 7 years ago as a Behavioral Health Technician and advanced to become a Registered Nurse then Lead Nurse. She is certified to teach Basic Life Support (BLS) classes and oversees CPR training.

Taylor is deeply involved in the Hays community, serving on the Nursing Advisory Board at Fort Hays State University and the Annual Mental Health Symposium Planning Committee. Taylor received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University.

“I work with passionate people assisting children and families through times of crisis and need. It’s hard to put into words how it feels to see children gain skills and confidence because of our team’s work.” – Taylor Ziegler

Sarah Berens has been with KVC Wheatland Hospital since 2016 and serves as Associate Clinical Director. She earned her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Other positions Sarah has held at KVC Wheatland Hospital include Clinical Supervisor, Hospital Therapist and Residential Therapist. She has also been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Systems Therapy, and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.

Rystal Waldman is a Nursing Supervisor at KVC Hospitals Hays where she serves as a liaison between the Director of Nursing and nursing staff. Rystal applies her clinical nursing knowledge and skill to ensure the comfort and safety of patients and families in accordance with legal policies and procedures. She also monitors infection control in the hospital.

Rystal began her KVC career as a Registered Nurse and has also served as Lead Nurse. She is certified to instruct Basic Life Support (BLS) classes. Rystal earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University.

“We are here to encourage and uplift our clients. I love helping them move beyond sickness into wellness and helping them understand they are worthy and so important. Not to mention the group of people I work with are some of the most compassionate and patient individuals out there!” – Rystal Waldman

Karyn Finn brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare and social services as well as the university setting. Karyn’s leadership experiences have focused on process improvement in policy and practice including departmental budgeting, benchmarking, recruiting, training, scheduling, and staff evaluation as well as maintaining adequate supply chain of goods for services. Prior to joining Niles, Karyn was the Director of Pediatric Integrated Health at Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Karyn received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education-Athletic Training from Tulane University, an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology from Hawkeye CC, and a Master of Arts in Community Health Education from the University of Northern Iowa.

Her public speaking engagements have included presenting research findings at local, state-level and national conferences. She has spent her career advocating for healthy lifestyles for children, adolescents, and adults of all backgrounds. In addition, she has a broad background in presenting educational training on a variety of topics to diverse audiences.

Karyn has been a dedicated community servant providing seven years of elected service on the Hudson School Board, four years on the Iowa Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and two years on the Iowa Community Credit Review Board. In addition, has served on the Cedar Valley United Way Mental Health Committee and Cedar Valley Mental Health Summit.

Full bio coming soon!

Phillip E. Caldwell Sr. joined KVC Health Systems in 2005 and currently serves as Associate Director for Niles. In his role, Phillip manages day-to-day operations of programming and staffing. Prior to becoming Associate Director, he was the Senior Milieu Manager for Niles, KVC Prairie Ridge Residential and KVC Hospital Services. Phillip has served in several other roles since joining KVC, including Hospital Supervisor and Campus Supervisor. He has also been part of the Crisis Intervention team since he first joined KVC in 2005, which has grown his knowledge of MANDT and Safety Crisis Management. Phillip has a passion for helping create positive change in children. He truly loves the children he serves and seeks to empower his peers.

Wichita, KS native, Juston White, is Executive Director of KVC Hospitals Wichita. Juston brings 10 years of experience in the development and treatment of children and teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse and other mental health challenges.

Prior to his role with KVC, Juston served as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas where his leadership led to enhanced after school and summer-based programming, stronger corporate partnerships, and an increased capacity to serve the growing number of youth in need. His background in mental health services began in 2009 with the United Methodist Youthville in Wichita.

Juston serves as a board member for the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County, participates with the Custody to Transition Citizen Review Panel for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and is an Honorary Commander for the McConnell Air Force Base’s 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. Juston is also one of four co-chairs for Project Wichita. Juston is a former Wichita State University Men’s Basketball player and a graduate of Winston-Salem State University.

“A child’s relationships and experiences have a significant amount of influence on their development. I’m fortunate to have an opportunity to influence such factors in a positive way with the hopes of them lasting a lifetime. I strongly believe in “If not you, then who?”. That’s what keeps me going each day.” – Juston White

Click here for an in-depth interview with Juston.