Alumnus Brian Sims to Deliver 2022 UIU Commencement Address

Brian Sims, MBA, FACHE, President & CEO of Good Shepherd Health Care System

HERMISTON, OR – An Upper Iowa University (UIU) alumnus and UIU Board of Trustee from Hermiston, Oregon, will deliver the commencement address during the University’s 2022 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 7. Brian Sims ’08, ’10 graduated summa cum laude with a major in Human Resources Management and a minor in Finance, and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in Organizational Development, at UIU.

“I am only one of many that benefited from UIU’s commitment to an education that puts one on a path to professional success,” Sims said. “It is an absolute honor to be chosen to deliver the commencement address to the next group of UIU alumni who understand the UIU slogan, an ‘Education Built for Life.'”

A retired Air Force veteran, Sims achieved the rank of Master Sergeant during his 20 years of service. A distinguished graduate of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, he served as the Iowa Director for Recruiting and administered the recruitment of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. Sims is a recipient of Air Force Career Counselor of the Year and Air Force Manager of the Year awards.

Sims currently serves as a Critical Access Hospital Chief Executive Officer with Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) in Hermiston, Oregon. With over 700 employees and 80 providers, Good Shepherd meets the medical needs of its communities with services not often seen in rural facilities, including a Level III Trauma Center, Medical/Surgical, OB/GYN, Critical Care, Rural Health Clinic, and Hospice. Sims was previously employed at Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa, and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics in Knoxville, Iowa.