Saint Mary’s Announces Expanded Leadership in Critical Care Services

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System has announced strategic leadership appointments aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), enhancing continuity of care and patient outcomes. 

Lauryn Gore, RN, who has successfully led the ICU team, has been promoted to Director of ICU and ED. Supporting her in this new structure is Shelby Jones, RN, who has been named Assistant Director of ICU and ED. 

“Lauryn and Shelby are both compassionate, committed leaders who understand the importance of teamwork in high-pressure settings,” said Carolyn Cook, Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Mary’s. “Their leadership reflects the values we hold dear—trust, accountability and service to our community. I have full confidence that this new structure will empower our staff and improve the care we provide during life’s most critical moments.” 

Gore, a seasoned ICU leader, brings a deep understanding of critical care and a vision for integrated service delivery. 

“Being part of the emergency department has brought a new light to critical care and the outpatient population in our community,” said Gore. “It’s my goal to ensure that we make a difference to every person who walks through our doors, even on their worst days.” 

She continued, “We can’t do this alone. It takes all of us—nurses, doctors, radiology, respiratory, lab, housekeeping and more—to make a difference together. That’s the heart of my leadership approach.” 

Newly promoted ED/ICU Manager Shelby Jones echoed the importance of unity between departments and the value of creating a culture rooted in trust and support. 

“The ER and ICU are where compassion, urgency and skill come together,” Jones said. “I’m passionate about supporting our nurses and staff so they can deliver the highest level of care under pressure. I want our staff to feel heard and empowered and our patients to feel safe and respected.” 

Jones emphasized her commitment to integrity as a guiding leadership principle. “For me, that means being honest, transparent and consistent. I want to create a space where people feel safe to speak up, ask questions and grow.” 

Both leaders also spoke to the emotional nature of emergency and critical care. 

“It’s not just clinical. It’s emotional,” Jones shared. “We see people on their worst days, and it stays with us. I’ll be focused on protecting our team’s wellbeing and reinforcing a culture where support and recognition matter as much as clinical excellence.” 

Gore added, “Every person in our ED is having an emergency from their perspective. While we triage patients to prioritize life-threatening issues, we never forget that everyone deserves to be treated with urgency and compassion.” 

These leadership changes reflect Saint Mary’s ongoing commitment to align operations around excellence, improving care coordination and strengthening its connection with the River Valley community.