Our Leaders

Executive Leadership Team

Richard Keddington

Chief Executive Officer

Richard has been CEO of Watertown Regional Medical Center for over five years and has worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 years. He oversees the strategic, operational, and clinical functions of WRMC and helps the hospital achieve its purpose of advancing the health and well-being of its patients and community. Richard is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and received his undergrad degree from BYU and his MBA in Healthcare Administration from Idaho State University. He enjoys trying new foods with his wife and spends his free time with his kids. Richard is an avid Packers and Bucks fan.

Patty Gedemer, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS

Chief Nursing Officer

Patty has a unique background spanning over 30 years in healthcare, including 17 years in nursing leadership, hospital operations, and performance improvement. She received her MBA in 2008 from Alverno College and served in a variety of roles across different hospitals before becoming CNO at Watertown Regional Medical Center. She received her Lean Certification from the Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle, Washington.

Pamela Hess, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Pamela Hess, CPA, brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare finance to her role as Chief Financial Officer at Watertown Regional Medical Center. She has spent the past 17 years serving as a hospital CFO, with leadership roles in Fort Wayne, Jacksonville, and Nashville, where she provided financial oversight and strategic guidance for hospital operations.

Pamela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. Originally born and raised in Milwaukee, she is excited to return to Wisconsin after more than 15 years away. Outside of work, Pamela enjoys spending time with her husband, exercising, and reading.

Katie Kerwin, MSN, RN, CCRN

Executive Director, Quality and Patient Safety

Katie Kerwin has been part of Watertown Regional Medical Center for more than 20 years, bringing a deep understanding of both patient care and hospital operations to her role as Executive Director of Quality & Patient Safety. She began her career at WRMC as a high school student in the Environmental Services department and progressed into nursing as her education and experience advanced. Katie spent approximately 10 years as a bedside nurse across multiple settings, including the Inpatient Center, ICU, Emergency Department, and PACU, before transitioning into healthcare leadership. For the past decade, she has served as Director of Inpatient Services, supporting patients and staff in the Inpatient Center and ICU.

Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UW–Madison in 2005 and her Master of Science in Nursing from UW–Green Bay in 2021. She is a board-certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) and previously held board certification in Medical-Surgical Nursing (CMSRN), with plans to complete her Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) certification later this year. A Watertown native, Katie is married and has three sons. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time at her kids’ sporting events, swimming during the summer, and traveling to the beach with her family whenever possible. In her new role, Katie looks forward to using her extensive clinical, leadership, and organizational knowledge to support staff and help remove barriers to delivering exceptional, safe patient care.

Ryan Lessner, SPHR

Executive Director of Human Resources

Ryan Lessner, who was born and raised in Watertown, offers an intimate knowledge of the community, along with over 20 years of human resources experience. His human resources experience includes 10 years as the Director of Human Resources for West Bend Mutual Insurance Company. He is a versatile leader with a background in recruitment, payroll, benefits, corporate training, leadership development, and succession planning. Since moving back to Watertown with his family in 2016, he has been heavily involved in the community, including serving as the assistant varsity baseball coach from 2017 to 2020 and coaching his kids' baseball and softball teams.

Gina Novotny

Executive Director of Physician Services

With more than 20 years of dedicated service to Watertown Regional Medical Center, Gina Novotny brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to the community she calls home. A native of the Greater Watertown area, Gina has built her career within the organization, holding roles in marketing and human resources before stepping into her current position as Executive Director of Physician Services. Her broad experience gives her a unique perspective on both the operational and human aspects of healthcare delivery. Gina holds a degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University.

Board of Trustees

Kathy Wagner

Board Chair

Jason Polzin

Vice Chair

Dr. James Meade

Chief of Staff

Richard Keddington, CEO

Sham Firdausi, CFO

Dr. Vikram Goyal

Past Chief of Staff