Published on October 06, 2025
Owensboro Health Names Keplinger as Vice President of Finance
Seasoned Financial Leader Returns to Owensboro Health After More Than Two Decades of Rural Healthcare Experience
Owensboro Health has named Chelle Keplinger as Vice President of Finance. She began her role on Sept. 22.
Keplinger brings nearly 30 years of healthcare finance experience, including 21 years as the Chief Financial Officer for rural critical access hospitals across the country. In her new role, she will oversee the health system's financial planning and report to Chief Financial Officer Russ Ranallo.
A native of Illinois, Keplinger began her healthcare career at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital nearly three decades ago. She returns with deep knowledge of rural hospital operations and a passion for sustainable growth.
“Chelle is a proven leader with the right blend of financial skill, grit and commitment to community healthcare,” said Ranallo. “She understands what it takes to guide hospitals through growth opportunities and position them for long-term success. We are grateful to have her back.”
Keplinger has served as CFO at three different hospitals in the states of Illinois, Wyoming and Colorado. Her work helped stabilize operations, improve margins and strengthen local access to care. She says those experiences shaped her approach to leadership.
“In rural hospitals, you learn how to stretch every dollar while never losing sight of the patient,” Keplinger said. “I’m proud of the progress we made at each stop. Now I’m excited to bring that knowledge home to Owensboro Health. This is where I started, and I hope it’s where I finish my career.”
Keplinger holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Western Kentucky University.
Media Contact: Jacqueline Russell, Owensboro Health Marketing Specialist, at (270) 704-7200 (cell) or Jacqueline.Russell@owensborohealth.org.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; four outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.