Kristin Cottam has been named director of the Mercy Community Health Foundation, which supports programs benefitting associates and patients of Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. Cottam has served as interim director since June. Cottam, who has more than 15 years of experience in community outreach and public health education, returns to Manhattan after most recently serving as the Wamego Hospital Foundation manager at Wamego Health Center. Prior to her time in Wamego, Cottam served as the community education coordinator for Via Christi Hospital, a member of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system. “I’m really excited to return to Manhattan and continue working with some of the great people I’ve gotten to know at Via Christi over the last 10 years,” she said. “I feel very fortunate that I can continue to have a positive impact on the health of the community.” Cottam will serve as interim foundation manager at Wamego Health Center until a replacement has been named. Both foundations have events planned in the next two months – the Mercy Foundation Golf Classic on Aug. 29 at Colbert Hills Golf Course and the Wamego Hospital Foundation’s Fall Golf Classic on Sept. 26 at the Wamego Country Club. Cottam graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in family life and community service. She resides in Wamego with her husband, Cory, and three children, Chase, 12, Brodie, 8, and Kannon, 4. Since the formation of the Mercy Community Health Foundation in 1997, the organization has raised more than $8.2 million to support the needs and mission of Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan.
