Brian Dieter Announces Retirement After 17 Years as Mary Greeley President & CEO
AMES, IA – Brian Dieter, President and CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center, has announced his retirement from the leadership position he’s held since July 2008. Prior to becoming President and CEO, Dieter was the medical center’s chief financial officer for nine years.
Dieter plans to retire in early August.
“A true leader leaves an organization in better shape than when he joined it. Brian has absolutely accomplished that,” said Ken McCuskey, Chair of the Mary Greeley Board of Trustees. “During his 17 years as President and CEO, Brian has guided Mary Greeley through a period of significant growth both in terms of the services we provide patients and the facilities where those services are offered. Just as importantly, he has helped Mary Greeley achieve a level of financial stability that is almost unheard of in modern day healthcare.”
Mary Greeley serves patients in a 14-county region of central Iowa and employs more than 1,400 people. During Dieter’s tenure as CEO, Mary Greeley saw growth in a range of service lines, including surgical care, mental health services, obstetrics, and emergency care. The hospital went through several significant facility improvements designed to enhance the patient experience, including a new inpatient tower, new emergency department and advanced units for mental health care and obstetrics care. He also actively deepened Mary Greeley’s relationship with McFarland Clinic, while encouraging strong, cooperative relationships with other central Iowa healthcare organizations. Recently, Mary Greeley and McFarland partnered on the Ames Surgery Center, Story County’s first outpatient surgery center.
The medical center has received a range of recognitions with Dieter at the helm, most significantly the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2019, and Magnet designation in 2019 and 2024. Baldrige is the nation’s leading measurement of quality improvement, while Magnet is the nation’s top recognition of nursing quality. Mary Greeley is one a few organizations nationally to hold both the Baldrige and Magnet designations. The medical center also achieved the highest level of recognition in the state’s Baldrige program, the Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence (IRPE), four times (most recently in 2023).
Dieter recently received the Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award from the Baldrige Foundation, which recognizes role-model leaders that challenge, encourage, and empower others to achieve performance excellence. The honor wasn’t a surprise to anyone who knows Dieter. He exemplifies compassionate, transparent, and accessible leadership. As CEO, he fosters a deep connection with Mary Greeley employees, seemingly knowing each by name. His commitment to open communication is evident in his quarterly meetings with staff, where he discusses hospital matters and directly addresses concerns.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dieter demonstrated extraordinary openness by inviting a Des Moines Register reporter to embed at the hospital for more than a week – a move unmatched by any other healthcare facility. The resulting series of articles stand as a powerful historical record, capturing the resilience and dedication of providers, nurses, support staff, patients, and families as they faced the highly stressful and sometimes tragic impact of the pandemic.
Dieter has been active in the Ames community and has represented the medical center on local and state organizations, including the Iowa Hospital Association, Ames Economic Development Commission, Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, and United Way of Story County.
“Brian Dieter leaves an amazing legacy at Mary Greeley, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality healthcare for the people of central Iowa,” said McCuskey.
The Board of Trustees is expected to announce Dieter’s successor within the coming weeks.
