Jake Socha, President/CEO
After graduating from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in 1989, Jake began his career at RehabWest in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. His 38 years of experience led him to Ernest Health in 2018.
As President and CEO of Ernest Health, his primary roles include developing, implementing, and evaluating the organization’s strategic plan; ensuring compliance with healthcare, financial, and staffing laws, and regulations; facilitating communication among stakeholders; and supporting field operations through the executive, senior operations, and regional team members while upholding the guiding principles and core values of Ernest Health.
“We will never be satisfied with just being average for our patients and staff. We need to continue to strive to be world-class in every aspect of our jobs.”
Jake, a golf enthusiast, lives with his wife Maureen, in Ludlow, Mass. They enjoy spending time with friends, their two daughters, and three grandsons.
Lynn Fleming, MS, CCC-SLP, Chief Clinical Officer
Lynn joined Ernest Health in 2004 and has 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership, serving in regional and national roles. She focuses on clinical outcomes, overseeing clinical and care coordination, and implementing career development programs nationwide.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Memphis Lambuth in Jackson, Tenn., and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
“I’m dedicated to helping our hospitals get the best possible results for our patients through promoting high-quality clinical care. In addition to patient-centered programming, my passion is mentorship and development of our clinical leaders within Ernest.”
Lynn enjoys collecting art, gardening, and hosting family gatherings.
Eudora Cannon, Executive Vice President, IT & Business Operations
Eudora received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She joined Ernest Health in 2004 and has 30 years of experience in operations, primarily focusing on analytics, revenue cycles, and acquisition efficiencies. She oversees IT, managed care, and revenue cycle operations.
“My greatest joy is helping to make sure that our facilities and caregivers have what they need to provide quality care to our patients.”
Eudora is an avid college football fan, especially of the Crimson Tide, and enjoys discovering new musical artists and attending live shows. Eudora has two children and continues to grow her family with adopted dogs.
Denise Kann, RN, BSN, MS, CRRN, Chief Regulatory Officer
After earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Denise completed a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. She joined Ernest Health in 2004 and has 41 years of experience as a registered nurse with quality and regulatory management, case management, and outpatient services. She has served in multiple post-acute healthcare leadership roles.
“I strongly believe that as long as you do the right thing for the right reason, you’ll always be successful in your endeavors.”
When not working, Denise enjoys traveling with her husband to every continent, playing with her grandchildren, crafting, or doing puzzles.
Caleb Reed, CPA, Executive Vice President, Finance & Corporate Controller
Caleb joined Ernest Health in 2019 and has 16 years of experience in accounting in healthcare operations. He manages financial operations, cash management, accounting, and integrity of financial reporting.
“One of the most influential things I’ve learned is that we all are given opportunities, and it’s up to us as to what we do with them. This motivates me to pursue excellence in everything I do.”
Caleb received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2006 from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, FL. When he’s not spending time with his wife and three daughters, Caleb enjoys woodworking and hunting.
Phil Leon, Executive Vice President, Business Development
Phil has 28 years of experience in healthcare sales and marketing, strategic growth and development, as well as physician and executive recruitment. He attended Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993. He joined Ernest Health first in 2006 and again in 2015.
“I’m passionate about the quality of care and outcomes our hospitals provide in the communities that we serve.”
In his spare time, Phillip enjoys traveling with family and friends.
Joy Miller, RN, CRRN, Executive Vice President, Nursing Operations
Joy was the first hired nurse at Ernest Health in 2004 and returned to the organization in 2018. She has 32 years of experience as a registered nurse, serving in different nursing administration leadership roles in clinical settings, including corporate clinical oversight and clinical consulting.
Joy earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northwest College in Senatobia in Miss. She also completed additional coursework at Texas A&M University in Texarkana, Ark. and Chamberlain University in Illinois.
“Ernest Health’s Guiding Principles align with my personal leadership philosophy in creating strong teamwork and commitment to patient outcomes. This is the force that fuels my work life.”
She enjoys spending time with her five children, three grandchildren, two dogs, and four horses, as well as hiking Arkansas’ state park trails.
John W. Greenleaf, III, J.D., General Counsel
John joined Ernest Health in 2023 and has over 20 years of experience as a practicing attorney, representing health systems, hospitals, physician practices, and long-term care facilities in corporate, regulatory, and transactional matters.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in 1998 from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. He then attended the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, MD. where he earned a Juris Doctor in 2001.
“Our legal system has many obvious and not-so-obvious impacts on how healthcare is provided in the United States. I’m happy to work for a company that’s committed to understanding and working with these systems to provide the best possible care for our patients.”
During his free time, John enjoys playing tennis, playing his guitar, and spending time with loved ones.
Julie Cuppett, MLS, CHC, CHPC, Chief Compliance and HIPAA Officer
Julie joined Ernest Health in 2018. She has 13 years of experience in various compliance positions and has served as a legislative assistant to a U.S. Representative. At Ernest Health, Julie oversees the compliance program and ensures operations follow regulatory requirements while providing effective, quality patient care.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., Julie has her master’s degree in legal studies from Drexel University in Philadelphia.
“Having fallen into the healthcare compliance world by chance, I discovered a passion for the intersection of meeting regulatory requirements while ensuring effective and quality patient care for positive outcomes.”
When not working, Julie enjoys horseback riding with her daughter, cooking, gardening with her husband, and taking care of her chickens, cats, and dog.
Laura Granger, Vice President of Human Resources
Laura joined Ernest Health in 2007 and has held various leadership positions within human resources. With over 20 years of healthcare Human Resources experience and specialized education in recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and regulatory compliance, Laura supports human resources services company-wide. As a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist and Certified in Predictive Index, she has designed and implemented programs that promote employee satisfaction and work-life balance for our team members, such as “Preceptor Onboarding Program”, “Why I Said Yes” to Ernest and “Ernest Wellness Journey.”
“Supporting a workforce that is passionate about patient care and helping others is pretty amazing to be a part of.”
In her spare time, Laura serves as a wellness resource to support EMS First Responders in her local community, an initiative close to her heart that continues the legacy of her EMT son, by helping those that serve others.
Top 10%
Recognized in the Nation’s Top 10%
Ernest Health’s rehabilitation hospitals have been ranked by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR), a non-for-profit corporation that was developed with support from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation research, a component of the U.S. Department of Education. It ranks rehabilitation facilities based upon care that is patient-centered, effective, efficient, and timely.
Through UDSMR, our hospitals collaborate with our peers throughout the United States to share information and establish best practices for patients. This helps us elevate rehabilitative care for everyone across the United States.
