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Danville - Dennis W. Dawes, President & CEO of Hendricks Regional Health, is announcing his retirement. Dawes, one of the longest-standing hospital CEOs in Indiana, has been with Hendricks Regional Health since 1972, and has served as President & CEO of the hospital since 1974.
Hendricks Regional Health experienced enormous growth under the guidance of Dennis Dawes, including expansions to the hospital and the addition of three satellite campuses in Plainfield, Avon and Brownsburg. Hendricks Regional Health is also a partner in the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA, completed in June, 2011, in Avon. This development was central Indiana’s first fully-integrated YMCA and hospital collaboration.
Highlights and improvements at Hendricks Regional Health under the leadership of Dennis Dawes include:
• A 44,000 square-feet expansion in 1981 that included respiratory therapy, cardiology, and an emergency department.
• A Cardiac Rehabilitation Center first opened at Hendricks Regional Health in 1987
• In 1990, the first satellite campus of Hendricks Regional Health opened in Plainfield, making medical services more convenient for people in eastern Hendricks County, Morgan County and western Marion County.
• A second satellite campus, Avon Station Medical Center, opened in Avon in 1993.
• In 1995, a massive renovation project at the Danville campus allowed many departments to enlarge and enhance their services, including emergency, outpatient, radiology, physical and occupational therapy and speech therapy. Medical Office Building Two also opened that year at the hospital.
• In 1997, the hospital opened a Cancer Center, along with a second medical arts building, at the Avon campus. The following year, the hospital’s third satellite campus, Brownsburg Medical Center, opened.
• The Thomas J. Hibbeln Surgery Center opened at the Avon campus in 2001.
• In 2002, the new Plainfield Medical Center opened, housing physician offices, Occupational Medicine, Immediate Care Center, radiology and laboratory services, along with physical and occupational therapy.
• The west tower of the hospital opened in 2003, providing new space for the cardiopulmonary department, cardiac rehabilitation department, pharmacy and more.
• In 2003, Hendricks Regional Health opened a new state-of-the-art emergency department and was the only hospital in Indiana to be named a Top 100 Hospital® for Performance Improvement by Solucient.
• In 2005, Hendricks Regional Health, opened its first cardiac catheterization laboratory, providing cardiac and peripheral-vascular services.
• In 2006, PHI Dove Flight air medical service, began operating from the Danville campus to offer scene response and inter-facility medical transport.
• A third medical office building opened at the hospital in 2007, offering three floors with six medical offices per floor.
• In 2010, Hendricks Regional Health achieved Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital also completed the largest construction project in its history with the addition of a new surgery wing featuring six state-of-the-art operating rooms, thirty-seven patient rooms, a new cafeteria, a central sterile, and a Center for Diabetes Excellence.
• The Hendricks Regional Health YMCA opened in Avon in June, 2011, in the Satori Pointe Development.
Dennis W. Dawes was born in Hawthorne, California. He graduated from Taylor University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion in 1968. He continued his education in the Graduate Program in Health Administration at Indiana University School of Medicine, and earned his Master’s Degree in 1974. His education also includes completion of the Fellowship of American College Healthcare Executives in 1987.
Dennis W. Dawes became one of the youngest hospital CEOs in Indiana when in 1974, at the age of twenty-eight, he was named administrator of Hendricks Regional Health (known then as Hendricks County Hospital). Since that time, the hospital has doubled its operations and continues to expand its services. Today, Hendricks Regional Health is one of the largest employers in Hendricks County with more than 1,600 employees.
Dennis W. Dawes has served as a leader in the Hendricks County community and continues to serve on many boards, including: Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Danville Chamber of Commerce, Avon Chamber of Commerce, Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce, the State Bank of Lizton and the Hendricks County Economic Development Corporation. This recognized philanthropist also serves as Chairman of the Life Centers Board and Chairman of the Elder Board of Faith Missionary Church. He is also a member of the Danville Rotary Club. Dawes resides in Brownsburg with his wife, Yao-Hsin; they have two grown sons. In his retirement, he is looking forward to spending more time with his family, but will continue to remain active in the community.
In honor of Dennis W. Dawes’ service to Hendricks Regional Health and the local community, an endowed fund is being created in his name through the Hendricks Regional Health Foundation. The fund, overseen by the foundation’s board of directors, will provide a lasting legacy for Dawes’ vision and leadership in our community. Gifts in honor of Dennis Dawes’ retirement can be made to the endowed fund by visiting supporthendricks.org/donation, or by contacting the Hendricks Regional Health Foundation at (317) 745-7594.
Since 1962, Hendricks Regional Health has served as the area's leading healthcare provider by delivering innovative care with a personal touch. Licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health and accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, Hendricks Regional Health staffs a full complement of physicians in 56 specialties at locations in Danville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Lizton and Bainbridge. To learn more call (317) 745-3553 or visit www.hendricks.org.
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