‘This was a journey I could never have imagined’: Kinyon reflects on 30 years at Reid

What does it feel like a year before someone has a heart attack or stroke? What about in the months leading up to a cancer diagnosis?

For many of us, the answer is "nothing out of the ordinary." There aren't glaring warning signs, and we tend to ignore the few hints our bodies give us that something is amiss.

Craig Kinyon grew up in a family that took annual health check-ups seriously. He also knew he needed to pay attention to how he was feeling.

"The one behavior that caught my cancer at Stage 3 -- as opposed to Stage 4 -- was listening to my body and seeking the care of my physician to discuss my concerns and then following their recommendations," he said.

"Had I waited on taking that action, my outcome would have been different."

Kinyon shared the story of his journey with colorectal cancer -- diagnosed thanks in part to a colonoscopy -- at the Reid Health Foundation's 2025 Kaleidoscope event. After nearly 17 years as President/CEO of Reid Health, Kinyon had recently taken an indefinite leave of absence from the organization. In September, Ben Wells succeeded him in the President/CEO role.

"I've worked in healthcare since 1983 in four health systems, ranging from large urban/teaching hospitals to mid-sized community and small rural and regional health systems. This was a journey I could never have imagined from the start of my career," he said.

After working a short time in the steel industry, Kinyon moved to healthcare, eventually coming to Reid in 1995 as the organization's first Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. At the time, Reid had about 1,100 employees and a facility in Richmond that was straining to keep up with the changes shaping the industry.

"The hospital campus was a collection of buildings dating from 1905 through 1982, rich in history but limited in space and technology for modern care," Kinyon said. "I saw an opportunity to help guide Reid through a transformation."

Over the course of the next three decades, Kinyon would help lead Reid through a period of exponential growth while navigating challenges ranging from a global financial crisis to a worldwide pandemic.

Today, Reid employs three times as many people, with modern facilities full of leading-edge technology and outreach services that provide care to an eight-county area in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio.

"It has been very rewarding to be a part of an organization that serves people. We all can make a difference in our various roles, whether by directly providing patient care, directly supporting patient care, or indirectly supporting patient care," Kinyon said.

"We all have vital roles in our highest calling -- to care for others and support them in their time of great need."

Kinyon moved into the President/CEO role in January 2008, just a month after Reid moved into its current campus in Richmond and in the middle of what became known as the Great Recession.

"We were also seeing the financial collapse of the private practice model in medicine, and Reid needed an immediate solution," he said. "There was significant stress among the physicians, and the organization immediately resolved to find a solution, which became Reid Health Physician Associates. For Reid to be successful, our physicians had to be successful."

It wasn't the only time Kinyon would have to lead Reid through a time shaped by global forces largely out of the organization's control.

"Though it was an unimaginable time to work in healthcare, I'm immensely proud of the way our staff navigated and persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. "We were existing in unprecedented times and living day-to-day with new challenges, supply shortages, record-breaking critical care patient volumes, and -- above all -- uncertainty.

"Our staff answered the calls to action and reported to the front lines of that battle day after day, with indescribable bravery."

"It has been very rewarding to be a part of an organization that serves people. We all can make a difference in our various roles, whether by directly providing patient care, directly supporting patient care, or indirectly supporting patient care. We all have vital roles in our highest calling -- to care for others and support them in their time of great need." -- Craig Kinyon, former Reid Health President/CEO

As the seventh leader in Reid's history, Kinyon shaped the health system's priorities over his 17 years in the position, including an emphasis on preventive care, starting with an employee wellness program.

"Moving from a 'sick business model' to one based on proactive management was a passion of mine. I felt that we needed to offer financial incentives to our employees and families to develop and maintain healthy habits with the guidance of their physicians," he said. "Making this program work for employees would also work for the community.

"We also knew we needed to reduce the financial barriers for wellness screenings, which were mostly out-of-pocket at that time. That spawned the BRAvo! program to fund mammograms, price reductions for CT cardiac scoring, and wellness requirements for the Reid employee health plan."

Ensuring Reid stayed at the forefront of technology was another focal point.

"Keeping up with state-of-the-art technology helps us remain viable, demonstrates we care about our patients, and shows Reid is a forward-looking organization for physicians and clinical staff to join and further develop their careers," Kinyon said.

Before coming to Reid, Kinyon spent five years at Fayette Regional Health System in Connersville, a connection that led to another important inflection point in his time as Reid's President/CEO -- the acquisition of many of Fayette Regional's assets when that organization declared bankruptcy in July 2019.

"In a smaller community, you're ultimately caring for friends, neighbors, and family. It's deeply personal, and I was taken by how the staff were so passionate about caring for their community," he said.

"There was no other health system interested in the assets of Fayette Regional and a closure date for their facilities was looming. The loss of emergency and support healthcare services would have been a human crisis that we felt we must address."

Under Kinyon's guidance, Reid made a commitment to Connersville and Fayette County to provide sustainable services to the community for many years to come, a promise that will soon be made concrete in the form of a new facility opening in early 2026.

"During his time at Reid, Craig led the organization through significant challenges that have positioned us to continue serving our community and fulfilling our mission," said Mark Harrington, Chair of the Reid Health Governing Board.

"The Reid Health community is grateful for Craig's leadership over the past three decades, and we wish him well in his next life chapter."

"To the Reid community, I've endlessly enjoyed working alongside you and leading you for the past 30 years," Kinyon said. "I take with me not only fond memories, but also life lessons, friendships, and immense respect for the Reid family and the communities it serves.

"Always remember the reasons you had for entering healthcare -- the calling you have to serve others -- and continue to remain Reid Strong."