CASPER, Wyo. (June 26, 2025) — Banner Wyoming Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Lance Porter has been recognized as one of the "118 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know" by Becker's Hospital Review, a leading health care industry publication.
"I'm deeply honored by this recognition, but it truly belongs to our entire team at Banner Wyoming Medical Center," Porter said. "Providing quality health care in rural settings comes with unique challenges, but it also offers incredible opportunities to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together as we continue to enhance health care access and services for the communities we serve across Wyoming."
Porter leads Wyoming's largest hospital, a 249-bed regional referral center serving approximately 250,000 people across Wyoming's expansive rural landscape. The medical center provides critical health care services in a state that faces unique challenges including severe weather conditions, transportation difficulties and limited access to specialized health care services.
"This recognition reflects Lance's exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing health care in rural Wyoming," said Margo Karsten, Banner Health’s Western Division senior vice president. "His ability to navigate complex challenges while improving patient care and staff satisfaction demonstrates the kind of leadership that makes a meaningful difference in rural health care."
Porter assumed the CEO role shortly after Banner Health acquired Wyoming Medical Center in 2020, guiding the formerly independent hospital through integration with Banner Health's multi-state system during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the medical center has achieved significant milestones, including:
- Gaining American College of Surgeons Level II Trauma Center status
- Expanding telestroke access to nine sites across Wyoming
- Maintaining American Heart and Stroke Associations’ "Gold Plus Stroke Award" and Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center status
- Leading more than $70 million in capital improvements, including a comprehensive maintenance and upgrade plan
- Developing a new electrophysiology lab
- Successfully recruiting dozens of primary care providers and specialists to Casper
- Decreasing traveling staff and employee turnover
- Achieving a 13-point increase in employee satisfaction scores in 2024
Prior to his current role, Porter served as the CEO of Banner Payson Medical Center in Arizona, where he successfully guided that facility through its transition into the Banner Health system.
Porter holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University, a master's in speech and language pathology from Arizona State University, and a master's in business administration from the University of Rochester in New York.
Find the full list of Becker’s rural hospital CEO recognitions here.
About Banner Wyoming Medical Center
Banner Wyoming Medical Center is part of Banner Health and is Wyoming's largest hospital with 249 beds on two campuses. It is one of Wyoming's most comprehensive hospitals and offers a range of inpatient and outpatients services including emergency services, Level II trauma care, heart care, women and infant services, neurological care and more. It is Casper's only full-service, non-profit hospital. Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/wymc.
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