CRHL Alumni Spotlight: Drew Hooper

Andrew (Drew) Hooper, Board Chair of Summit Pacific Medical Center (SPMC) in Elma, Washington, never expected that answering a newspaper advertisement in 2008 would lead to a decades-long commitment to rural health leadership. While he had always envisioned serving in an elected role and was driven by a belief that he is “obligated to leave his community better than it was before,” becoming a rural hospital board member was not something he had specifically planned.

In 2008, when Drew came across that advertisement, he applied, was appointed, then later elected to serve. What began as an opportunity to give back to his local community has grown into a long and impactful tenure. Since joining the board, Drew has been elected to four terms and has served as Board Chair since 2014.

At the time, SPMC was known as Mark Reed Hospital, and Drew’s first assignment as a board member was a significant one: forming a community advisory committee to determine whether the hospital should remain open. Facing significant financial and operational challenges, the hospital’s future was uncertain.

Today, Summit Pacific Medical Center has undergone a remarkable transformation. Since 2008, SPMC has grown its workforce to more than six times its original size, developed strong partnerships with community organizations, local businesses, and government leaders, and remained steadfast in its vision of becoming “the healthiest community in the nation.”

In addition to Drew’s local impact, Drew has contributed to rural hospital board governance and advocacy on a national level, serving as an advisory board member, co-program leader, and preceptor for NRHA’s Rural Hospital Board Certification Program, as well as chairing the Governing Boards Committee for the Washington State Hospital Association.

Reflecting on his role as a program leader and preceptor, Drew shared that he especially values the opportunity to continually reassess his own teaching and ensure alignment between what he says and what he practices. He has also seen a noticeable impact on his own board, where members who have completed the program are now asking stronger questions and demonstrating a deeper understanding of board operations. 

When asked to share an important lesson learned, Drew emphasized the importance of engaging with the community, advocating at the local level, and collaborating with others who share an aligned purpose. As for leadership advice, he referenced The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, highlighting the value of improving by 1% each day. He noted that the success of SPMC did not happen overnight but was the result of 18 years of consistently “doing one thing every day to be better,” becoming more aligned with the vision, and recognizing that the “path would become clearer as we walked.”