Amanda 'Mandy' Shelast Appointed as New President of Mercy Southeast Communities

New Leadership at Mercy Southeast

Mercy has announced the appointment of Amanda "Mandy" Shelast as the new president of Mercy Southeast Communities after an extensive nationwide search. With a strong focus on improving healthcare access and quality, Shelast is expected to lead the organization into a new era of care for residents in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding regions in Southeast Missouri.

Background of Amanda Shelast

Having over 16 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Mandy has a rich history of enhancing patient access and care systems. Shelast previously held leadership roles at Marshfield Clinic Health System, where she was pivotal in overseeing the merger with Sanford Health in 2025. Her recent position as network president at Sanford Health equipped her with valuable insights and experience that she now brings to Mercy Southeast.

David Argueta, senior vice president at Mercy and the president of community operations, emphasized Shelast's capability, stating, “Mandy's proven leadership in multifaceted health systems and genuine passion for rural healthcare makes her an ideal fit for Southeast Missouri.” Argueta highlighted Shelast's ability to unite teams and improve care accessibility, positioning Mercy Southeast as a potential regional healthcare hub.

Vision for the Future

Under her leadership, Shelast aims to build upon Mercy Southeast’s impressive foundation, reinforcing patient-centered care while focusing on bringing teams together in a cohesive manner. She plans to foster growth and transformation within the healthcare system, driving initiatives to recruit physicians and advanced practice providers to enhance services in rural areas. “It is a privilege to lead hospitals and health systems through growth and change while ensuring exceptional patient care,” Shelast remarked.

Shelast’s leadership skills have come to the fore through various initiatives directed at healthcare policy reforms, where she has served in board roles with organizations such as the American Hospital Association and the Michigan Hospital Association. She has dedicated her career to addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for policy changes that enhance patient care.

Educational Background

Mandy Shelast holds a bachelor's degree in community development and a master's degree in health services administration from Central Michigan University. These qualifications, paired with her extensive experience, position her well to lead Mercy Southeast into its next chapter.

As president, she will oversee not only Mercy Hospital Southeast but also Mercy Hospital Stoddard in Dexter, Mercy Hospital Perry in Perryville, and several Mercy clinics spread across the region, including locations in Bernie, Bloomfield, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Malden, New Madrid, Perryville, Poplar Bluff, and Sikeston.

Transition of Leadership

She takes over the position from Eric Ammons, who recently retired after over three decades of dedicated service to Mercy. Argueta expressed appreciation for Ammons' exemplary leadership, stating, “Eric ensured that Mercy continued to provide for Southeast Missouri until we identified the right person for this critical role.” Shelast will officially begin her new role on June 29.

Mercy, which ranks among the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., is dedicated to providing excellent patient experiences. It is vital in delivering quality care across multiple states and has garnered recognition for its commitment to community health initiatives, having provided millions in charity care in the past year alone. As Mandy begins her journey, there is optimism about the stronger healthcare future she aims to build for the communities of Southeast Missouri.