Blyden Appointed Kettering Health Chair

Dave Weigley, president of the Columbia Union Conference and chair of Kettering Health, announced today that he has appointed Celeste Ryan Blyden to serve as chair of Kettering Health’s Membership Board and Board of Directors.  

Weigley, whose wife, Becky, is battling cancer for a second time, says that stepping away from his longtime role with Kettering Health and several other boards and committees will allow him to focus more on caring for and supporting his wife through a very challenging experience and treatment regimen. 

“Helping my wife through this illness takes precedence, but it has been a joy to serve Kettering Health for 17 years with such caring individuals who are deeply dedicated to advancing Christ’s ministries of healing,” Weigley says. 

Blyden, who has served the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 30 years and will continue in her role as executive secretary of the Columbia Union, has been vice chair of the Dayton, Ohio-based organization since January 2022. 

“I resonate strongly with Kettering Health’s mission to improve quality of life for the people who live and work in the Ohio communities we have been privileged to serve since 1964. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members and leaders to extend it even further,” she says.

“Celeste is a natural relationship builder who will work to maintain our strong connection to our health care organization that is such a vital part of our mission and ministry to the community,” Weigley says. 

Blyden will join Kettering Health’s search process to find a new CEO to lead its 1,800 physicians and 14,000+ staff members at 14 medical centers and 120+ outpatient facilities located throughout western Ohio. Read more about Kettering Health at ketteringhealth.org.