WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center President and CEO Steve Altmiller addresses the hospital staff Wednesday at a farewell gathering. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — Steve Altmiller got a real sense of community in the Mid-Ohio Valley during his 6½ years as the President and CEO of WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.

Wednesday was Altmiller’s last day at the hospital as many of the hospital staff and community gathered at the medical center’s South Tower Cafe to say goodbye and to wish him well in his upcoming retirement.

“This has been the best hospital I have ever worked at,” he said. “It is the best group of people I have ever worked with.

“Everyone has put their best foot forward in making this a better hospital.”

Altmiller talked about the sense of community he has seen throughout the state and in the Mid-Ohio Valley since coming to the hospital in 2018.

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center President and CEO Steve Altmiller speaks to well-wishers at a retirement party Wednesday at the medical center. Altmiller, who has been the head of the hospital for 6 ½ years, is stepping down and retiring. He will be joining his family in Texas where he is planning to teach at the college level and spend time with his three grandchildren. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“The people of West Virginia are the best and the staff here is fantastic, friendly and competent,” Altmiller said. “I am just going to miss this place.”

He talked about the COVID pandemic and how many in the community stepped forward and made masks for the hospital and how others stepped up and provided the hospital with needed materials. He talked about wherever he went in the hospital, the staff was always welcoming him warmly.

Altmiller commended the hospital staff for stepping up when the people in the community have needed them.

“You have tough jobs and you keep giving back to the community,” Altmiller said. “This has been so rewarding. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your CEO and all the accomplishments you have made over the last seven years.”

During his time as president and CEO, Altmiller worked closely with Camden Clark’s leadership team to expand services at the hospital, expanded the medical staff and increased the presence of the hospital in the community with most recently opening Camden Clark Medical Center’s new Southgate Medical Complex in south Parkersburg last September, hospital officials said.

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center President and CEO Steve Altmiller addresses the hospital staff Wednesday at a farewell gathering. Altmiller is retiring and leaving the Mid-Ohio Valley after 6 ½ years as the head of the local medical center. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Incoming President and CEO Sean Smith commended all of those who came to wish Altmiller well.

“It is a reflection of what Steve has meant to the hospital,” Smith said.

Altmiller’s impact on the organization has been “immense” since arriving at the hospital in 2018, he said.

It was a difficult and challenging time when the hospital was losing money and the hospital was trying to define itself and its role within the WVU Medicine system, Smith said.

“Steve came in and really challenged the way we think about things and really revolutionized our approach,” he said. “It was simple, but it was transformational.

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center President and CEO Steve Altmiller (center) talks with colleagues, including Camden Clark Chief Financial Officer Kyle Pierson and incoming president and CEO Sean Smith, during a retirement party held for Altmiller Wednesday at the hospital. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“It was to quit focusing on the things we can’t control and focus on the things we can.”

Altmiller took a positive approach in how he guided the hospital with a focus on how decisions impacted employees and the medical staff.

“We often see the results of the decisions that leaders make,” Smith said. “The things we are not always privy to is how leaders arrive at those decisions.”

Smith commented on the huge impact Altmiller had on him.

“Professionally, Steve has been my greatest mentor,” he said. “I can’t thank him enough for everything he has meant to me and what he has meant to our community and our organization.

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center President and CEO Steve Altmiller poses with a couple of cakes during a retirement party held in his honor at the hospital on Wednesday. Altmiller has been the president and CEO over the last 6 ½ years which brought a number of changes, most recently the opening of the new Southgate Medical Complex in south Parkersburg last September. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We will all feel that impact for a long time.”

Altmiller praised Smith as the incoming leader will be someone the staff and the community will be proud of.

“Sean did everything we asked him to do and he did it amazingly,” he said. “I leave you in good hands.

“He is a world-class leader. He is going to take this place to the next level.”

Altmiller said he will be joining his wife in Texas in the League City area south of Houston soon where their daughter is along with their three grandchildren.

He has been working on his doctorate in education and will be finishing that in December and wants to do some teaching at the college level as there are a number of colleges around where he will be.

Altmiller continually commended the staff at Camden Clark in the care they have brought to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“It has been a great team,” he said. “Keep finding things to improve on and keep challenging yourselves.

“Keep doing the great things you are doing.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com