TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced she has appointed several leadership positions to serve on the agency’s newly established State Hospital Commission.
Kimberly Lynch, currently Chief Counsel for KDADS, has been named State Hospital Commissioner. Lynch began her more than 10 years of state service in 2009 with the Kansas Attorney General’s Civil Litigation Division. She joined KDADS in 2012 and was promoted to Chief Litigation Attorney, then Senior Counsel, before being named Chief Counsel in 2017. Lynch holds a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washburn University, where she majored in Psychology. She recently earned a certification in Health Care Compliance from the Health Care Compliance Association. Throughout her tenure at KDADS, Lynch has represented the state hospitals and provided guidance and counsel to the superintendents and staff.
Dr. Mike Dixon has been named Deputy Commissioner of the new commission. Dr. Dixon, who was named Superintendent at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center (PSHTC) in 2017, will continue to serve as Superintendent while taking on the additional role of State Hospital Deputy Commissioner. In addition, he has served as Chief Forensic Psychologist and Program/Clinical Director for the Sexual Predator Treatment Program at Larned State Hospital (LSH). Dr. Dixon holds a Ph.D. in Community Clinical Psychology from Wichita State University and is a licensed psychologist.
KDADS’ current budget director, Georgianna Correll, has also been named State Hospital Commission Deputy Commissioner. Correll joined KDADS in 2016 as the Facilities Reimbursement Manager and was promoted to Budget Director in 2017, where she has worked closely with hospital superintendents and provided guidance to the hospitals’ chief financial officers. Correll has held a variety of positions within the public sector as well, such as Director of Business Development and Client Relations, Business Analytics Manager and Sales Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Friends University.
Secretary Howard announced the creation of a new state hospital commission in February as part of a strategic plan to develop a cohesive approach to supporting and empowering the Kansans it serves. The new commission also affords the agency the opportunity to improve communication and collaboration between state hospitals, commissions and stakeholders.
Additionally, Secretary Howard announced Acting Superintendent of LSH Lesia Dipman has accepted the permanent superintendent position and will continue to serve and bring continuity to the hospital staff and the Larned community. Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 34 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984 where she has worked in various positions, including Administrative Program Director of the State Security Program. Dipman attended Fort Hays State and Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. In 2005, she was promoted to Director of Social earned a master’s degree in social work from Newman University in Wichita.
