Meet the leaders who make up MountainView Hospital's Administrative team. This group works tirelessly to keep the hospital running smoothly so our colleagues can focus on what MountainView Hospital is known for: providing safe, high quality patient care.
Hiral Patel
Chief Executive Officer
Hiral Patel is MountainView Hospital's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Hiral joined the MountainView team in September 2022.
Prior to MountainView, Hiral was CEO at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, Louisiana. She was with the Tulane Health System for 14 years. Hiral started her career as an intern and rose through the ranks. Her most notable accomplishments include over $100 million in expansion and capital projects, establishing the first Comprehensive Stroke Center in Orleans Parish, and in her current role she has established the first Level II Trauma Center in St. Tammany Parish. During her tenure as CEO, Lakeview Regional reached top rankings in HCA Healthcare for employee engagement, physician engagement, turnover, and clinical excellence.
Hiral is passionate about the healthcare field because it is an industry by people for people. She enjoys making a notable difference in the communities she serves through involvement with local organizations as well. She has served as board chair for the Youth Service Bureau and as a CASA volunteer working with children in the foster system.
She was honored with the “Large Employer Leadership Award” by the Times-Picayune in 2022 and 2020. Hiral was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by EDGE Magazine in 2020, recognized as a “Healthcare Hero” by New Orleans City Business in 2019 and named “One to Watch in Healthcare” by New Orleans City Business in 2017.
Hiral is originally from Savannah, GA where she completed her undergraduate degree in Health Administration at Armstrong State University. She earned her Master of Health Administration from Tulane University and also has her Certification in LEAN Healthcare from University of Michigan. In addition to her involvement in healthcare organizations, Hiral enjoys traveling, spending time with her two nieces and family, and listening to live music.
Mitch Geiger
Chief Operating Officer
Mitch Geiger is Chief Operating Officer for MountainView Hospital. He joined MountainView in April 2023. Prior to joining MountainView, Mitch was the VP of Operations at Sunrise Hospital.
Geiger brings many years of progressive healthcare leadership in hospital operations and performance improvement. At Sunrise, Geiger has executive oversight for ancillary support departments, construction projects and responsibility over nearly 1 million square feet of physical space.
Geiger has been with HCA Healthcare throughout his career. He has served as a manager of Performance Improvement for the corporate HCA PI SWAT team. While with the corporate team, Geiger was able to travel to a variety of HCA facilities throughout the organization and lead hospital based multi-disciplinary teams focused on recommending process solutions.
Geiger earned his Master of Business Administration at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and Bachelor of Science, Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Ruth Kain, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Ruth Kain, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, is Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for MountainView Hospital.
Prior to joining MountainView, Ruth was at HCA Healthcare’s Tulane Health System, where she has served as the Chief Nursing Officer since 2019. Ruth is a seasoned executive serving in roles of increasing responsibility throughout her career.
At Tulane Health System, Ruth helped navigate the complex and challenging landscape of the pandemic while at the same time responding to natural disasters in the form of hurricanes that impacted the hospitals.
Ruth began her nursing career at the bedside in obstetrics. Additionally she has worked in newborn services, emergency services and as a travel nurse.
Ruth received her Doctor of Philosophy, Organizational Leadership, from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her Master of Science in Nursing is from the University of Indianapolis. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Associate of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. She is the recipient of the 2020 New Orleans Health Care Hero award.
Sonia Baughman
Chief Financial Officer
Sonia Baughman is Chief Financial Officer for MountainView Hospital. Prior to joining MountainView, Sonia was CFO at Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center.
Sonia has championed length of stay initiatives, including refining MDR processes, ELOS patient dispositioning and hospitalist accountability to individual performance. She quickly realized the need for a palliative care program due to limited options available and developed a partnership with a local hospice company for faster patient placement. Sonia is well respected by the medical staff and has found innovative ways to work with them on denial management and supply optimization.
Sonia began her career with HCA in 2006 at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, FL. She then moved to Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, FL as the Controller and was promoted to Assistant CFO in 2018. In 2019, Sonia relocated to Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, South Carolina as the Chief Financial Officer.
Sonia earned her Bachelors of Science in Professional Accounting, her Masters of Business Administration, and her Masters of Accountancy, from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.
Harsha Dave, MBA, RN-BSN, MTBS (ASCP), CIC, CPHQ
VP, Quality/Risk
Harsha Dave is vice president of quality/risk and is dedicated in providing quality, patient and family-centered care in hospital settings. She is committed to clinical excellence and a philosophy of “the Patient comes first.”
Before becoming Vice President of Quality/Risk management, Harsha spent four years as a director of infection prevention & control in which she helped restructure the Infection Prevention program that has resulted in a decrease in hospital acquired infections and increased patient satisfaction. Prior to this, Harsha spent 10 years as an infection preventionist interacting with front line staff and educating them on the importance of preventing infections.
Harsha grew up in Uganda, East Africa, and lived in London with her family prior to moving to United States to build her career. She has a wide variety of experience from working at a children’s hospital in Atlanta, to owning a hospitality business in Arizona.
Harsha enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.
Chris Marlin
VP, Human Resources
Chris Marlin, vice president of human resources, has been with MountainView Hospital since August 2020. Chris has more than 23 years of experience in human resources management roles within HCA.
Chris focuses on the overall strategic human capital of the organization and has a proven track record of low turnover and high employee engagement in the facilities he has been in. Chris has a BA in Human Resources Administration, and an MBA from St. Leo University in Tampa, Florida.
Prior to Las Vegas, Chris resided in Denver, Colorado and Roanoke, Virginia, but most of his family calls Florida home. Chris is married to his wife, Seglinda, an ARNP, and in his spare time, enjoys Jeeping, traveling, and taking care of his greyhounds and a parrot.
Jennifer McDonnell, MBA
Director, Communications & Community Engagement
Jennifer McDonnell has been with MountainView Hospital since November 2012. She is an experienced and award-winning communications executive with experience in developing major initiatives, media relations, crisis communications and community events.
Jennifer was named to Vegas Inc.’s 40 under 40 in 2018 and has received several awards for marketing and communications, including the Aster Award and PRSA Pinnacle Award. Prior to her career in healthcare communications, Jennifer was a journalist, reporting on business, real estate and legal matters.
Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and her MBA from Roseman University of Health Sciences. She also has a certificate in Public Relations from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.