Adam Naumann is passionate about expanding access to healthcare for rural and underserved populations as the new chief executive officer of Greater Valley Health Center.  

Naumann brings nearly two decades of experience in healthcare administration to his new role, where he’s building on what the organization and retired CEO Mary Sterhan have already built. 

“She did a phenomenal job of launching Greater Valley, building this new (facility) and really laying that foundation so that now we are poised for a period of growth. So we can just launch and continue providing services to those who are underserved and hopefully identify that part of the population who don’t have a healthcare home,” he said 

The organization started as the Flathead Community Health Center in 2007 and operated under the Flathead City-County Health Department until 2021, when the center became an independent nonprofit, eventually rebranding as Greater Valley Health Center.    

Since then, the center has acquired Sykes Pharmacies, added school-based services in Kalispell and Evergreen as well as a mobile support clinic, purchased the Evergreen Clinic, expanded its budget from $5 million to $26 million and more than doubled its staff.   

Greater Valley also opened a new facility that combines medical, dental, behavioral health and care management services under one roof at 1935 Third Ave. E. in Kalispell.   

Soon, Greater Valley will also add a mobile clinic to its list of services. The organization plans to launch the clinic sometime in 2026, expanding access to more rural communities in the area. The details of that are still being hashed out, as Naumann said the best locations for the mobile clinic are being determined.  

Following a period of steady growth for Greater Valley, Naumann said he wants to eventually add new providers into the mix, continuing to build on the core services of primary care, dental and behavioral health.  

The organization has already expanded the number of patient navigators by hiring and retooling staff from other parts of the organization, Naumann said. Staff in those roles help patients navigate healthcare costs and barriers to treatment.

They also help people enroll in healthcare coverage, which is about to become pertinent to many as new work requirements for Medicaid take effect in June.  

“It’s a service where patients can come in and not have to fumble through that on their own. They can come here and we can assist them in establishing care and navigating through all those complexities,” Naumann said. 

On July 4, 2025, the House Reconciliation bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was signed into law and made sweeping changes to Medicaid expansion. 

These changes will mostly affect adults covered through Medicaid and are intended to increase regular eligibility checks and personal responsibility for staying enrolled, according to the Montana Department for Health and Human Services.  

Changes from the act include more frequent check-ins to ensure someone is still qualified for coverage, work or community service requirements for able-bodied adults and new deadlines to verify income and participation in the work or community service requirements.  

There are several exemptions listed for the new work requirements, and more guidance is expected by June, according to the state healthcare agency.  

The large tax and spending bill also cut more than $1 trillion over a decade from federal healthcare and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and by shifting certain federal costs onto the states, according to the Associated Press.  

Those cuts will affect federally qualified health centers like Greater Valley, but Naumann said the clinic is preparing for those changes.  

“It is a shared concern for all health organizations,” he said.  

As he settles into his new role, Naumann said he is interested in meeting more people in the community and forming partnerships with those who understand the “direct correlation between the economic health of the community and the physical health of its citizens.”  

“I'm bringing things from my experience here as well, so that we can benefit and grow together. But one of my other objectives is to meet with community partners and really listen and learn from them to understand what they feel the needs of the community are,” he said. 

Most recently, Naumann worked for six years as the system director of primary Care at Union Health in Terre Haute, Indiana. He also holds a Master of Health Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. His undergraduate degree focused on corporate business finance, but he knew he wanted to go into a field that was more rewarding than regular commerce.  

Serving others is an important facet of his life, and what he and his wife want to instill in their children.  

“Healthcare enabled me to serve patients and serve those that I'm working for, right? ... You’re able to provide service in your personal life but being able to do that as a profession is just extremely rewarding,” Naumann said.  

Providing care to those who can’t afford it became a focus for Naumann. He’s originally from Utah and wanted to move back out West, so when he was looking at available positions, the mission of Greater Valley Health Center caught his eye.  

“While interviewing, I was just really impressed by the level of service and individual care that they give their patients. They are truly patient-centered,” Naumann said. “A lot of organizations claim that, but it's evident here in all that they do.” 

He said Greater Valley is exceeding in providing customized care for patients, giving them the time and attention they may not get at other systems. This allows providers to focus on preventative care, rather than being reactionary, and giving patients the knowledge they need to continue treatment.  

Naumann is looking forward to the summer, when his wife and children will join him after finishing the school year in Indiana. He said they are big fans of being on the water and are looking forward to exploring the many lakes and rivers that Northwest Montana has to offer.  

To learn more about Greater Valley Health Center, visit greatervalleyhealth.org.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.