Gothenburg Health has named Dr. Anna Dalrymple, MD, FAAFP, as its new chief medical officer, a role that expands her leadership responsibilities while allowing her to continue caring for patients in the community she serves.

Dalrymple, who has been a family physician at Gothenburg Health since 2017, brings extensive experience in rural medicine, physician leadership and medical education to the position. As chief medical officer, she will support the medical staff and hospital administration in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care while helping guide clinical operations across the organization.

“I am excited and a little apprehensive because this is a new role for me,” Dalrymple said, “but I enjoy working through complex challenges that are rewarding, and similar to medicine, this role has an opportunity to be that.”

Although the position carries broad administrative responsibility, Dalrymple said continuing patient care remains important to her. She will split her time between clinical and administrative duties and plans to continue providing family medicine services, including obstetric care and taking call. “I very much like taking care of patients and will continue to do so,” she said. “I am honored to be able to use these skills here to serve the hospital and my community.”

The chief medical officer role differs from that of chief of staff, a position that Dalrymple also holds that is elected by the medical staff. The chief of staff role focuses on credentialing and leading medical staff meetings. The CMO is appointed by administration and oversees a wider scope of clinical and operational responsibilities, serving as a bridge between providers and hospital leadership.

Dalrymple’s preparation for the role includes statewide leadership experience and advanced training in rural physician leadership. In March 2024, she received the Theodore H. Koefoot Jr., MD Outstanding Preceptor in Rural Family Medicine Award, a prestigious, student-nominated honor recognizing excellence in teaching and mentorship. That same month, she assumed the one-year term as president of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians.

In May 2024, Dalrymple completed the Heartland Health Alliance Rural Physician Leadership Academy, a selective six-month program limited to 20 physicians and facilitated by executive leadership faculty from the University of Nebraska College of Business Administration. The program focused on developing leadership skills specific to the challenges of rural health care.

As chief medical officer, Dalrymple said her focus will remain on supporting both the medical staff and the hospital’s mission. “My vision is to support our providers and help ensure the hospital continues to deliver quality care by providing evidence-based medical guidance,” she said.