Joan Walters, RN, MSN, CEO was awarded the Oklahoma Rual Health Administrator of the year by the Oklahoma Rural Health Association on Friday, Sept 5, 2008.

Joan grew up in Meeker, OK, daughter of the late Wilfrid and Louise Marak. She knew she wanted to become a nurse while in grade school. Her mother was also an RN and her inspiration.
Joan has been an RN and has worked at Prague Hospital for 31 years. She obtained her associate degree in nursing from Seminole Jr. College in 1977, a BSN from Bartlesville Wesleyan in 2000 and a Masters in Nursing from University of Phoenix in January 2007. She was the Director of Nursing for about 16 years before becoming the hospital administrator in 2004 and served a dual role as administrator at Stroud Regional Medical Center and Prague from July 2006 to August 2007. In August 2007 Joan became chairman of Prague Healthcare Alliance, Inc., which now owns the Prague Hospital.
Joan is married to Prague native Tommy Walters and they have two sons – Ty and Beau, ages 24 and 26. She enjoys singing in the church choir, golfing, snow skiing, riding with her husband on their motorcycle and spending time with her families. She is a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Chamber of Commerce President-Elect, serves on the Prague Housing Authority and the Lincoln County Board of Health, member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives). Joan is very passionate about nursing and rural health care in general and it gives her an opportunity to serve the Lord through her work.