After ten years on the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustee’s Kevin Connell is stepping down effective October 1st, and John Kovac, M.D. will be stepping in to fill his place.

During his time Connell has been involved in a number of major decisions,”We voted to expand the hospital, we got some tax help from the citizens of Geary County. Going to electronic records was a big thing, and several government changes in the way insurance and the way healthcare is taken care of.”

He explained that he joined the Board of Trustee’s because he felt it was a way that he could give back to the community and especially the hospital.

“Twenty nine years ago I was caught in a construction accident, a dirt cave in, and if it wasn’t for the hospital and the Doctor’s here I wouldn’t be here. I thought I could pay back some of the help that they gave me.”

Gary Drake, Chairman of the Board presented Connell with a plaque in recognition of his ten years of service during the Trustee’s meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Replacing Connell will be John D. Kovak, M.D., a retired family physician who relocated to Junction City in 2012 with his wife of 43 years, Helen (Ascher).

Mrs. Kovak was born and raised in Junction City and the couple were married in Junction City in 1971.

Dr. Kovak practiced medicine in the Family Medicine Department of Kaiser Permanete of Southern California. He was also on the staff at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine for 21 years as Assistant Professor of Family Medicine.

He explained what attracted him to Geary Community Hospital.

“They are very well organized they have a good way to approach community spirit, that’s what I kind of like about this. They really have the people of the County and the people of the area at heart. It’s not just a business to them, this is what they do and they do this with the enthusiasm that you would expect with Junction City.”

Dr. Kovak took the oath of office Tuesday during the Board of Trustee’s meeting and will officially sit on the board effective October 1st.