Candice R. Smith, MSN, RHCNOC, CCRN, RACR
Chief Executive Officer
Candice Smith serves as the chief executive officer of Deaf Smith County Hospital District in Hereford. Previously, Candice served as its chief nursing officer. She has 23 years of experience in healthcare and has been in healthcare leadership for 12 of those years. She obtained her master’s in nursing administration from the University of Phoenix in 2013 and her BSN from WTAMU in 2004. Prior to joining her hometown hospital Hereford Regional Medical Center in 2016, Candice worked at Northwest Texas Hospital for 13 years and served as chief nursing officer at Plum Creek Long Term Acute Care Facility for three years. Her nursing experience includes pediatric care, medical intensive care, surgical intensive care, and trauma services, and she served as a clinical nursing instructor for Amarillo College.
In 2023, Candice earned certification as a Rural Health Chief Nursing Officer from the National Rural Hospital Association.
In 2017, she was nominated as one of the Panhandle’s top 25 nurses. She achieved her Critical Care Registered Nurse Certification in 2008. She is active in numerous civic and community groups, including serving as a board member on Deaf Smith County’s Court Appointed Special Advocacy for kids. She also serves on the Panhandle Regional Advisory Council, Deaf Smith County’s Campus Representative to the Amarillo College Council, and she serves on the Hereford Day Care board. She serves as a Council Member on the Texas Disaster Preparedness Committee and is also an active member of the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force.
Kristin De Los Santos, BSN, RN
Chief Operating Officer
Kristin joined Hereford Regional Medical Center in 2011. She has served as chief nursing officer, assistant director of nursing, and ER director and trauma coordinator. Under her leadership as HRMC’s emergency department director and trauma coordinator, the hospital received a zero-deficiency trauma survey and was recognized at the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) for being just one of four hospitals to achieve this goal!
As a registered nurse, Kristin has bedside experience in medical/surgical care, emergency and trauma services, labor and delivery, newborn nursery, and community wellness. In 2021, Kristin was selected as one of the Panhandle Great 25 nurses. She obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Sciences from West Texas A&M University in Canyon.
Kristin has a strong passion for rural healthcare and the Hereford community.
Trevor Rohm, M.D., MS
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Rohm is board certified in family medicine and in clinical informatics and sees patients at the Hereford Health Clinic where he focuses primarily on management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Rohm serves as the clinic’s medical director and works with clinic staff to provide a full scope of family medicine services. Dr. Rohm also oversees the hospital’s quality metrics and works closely with our Accountable Care Organization. He is a former software engineer and data analytics specialist.
Paul Gafford
Chief Financial Officer
Paul is a licensed certified public accountant with past leadership roles in hospital, auditing, and consulting settings. For the last twenty years, Paul has worked in rural healthcare as both an audit partner and a chief financial officer. He brings extensive leadership experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges that face the rural healthcare industry to Hereford.
Paul is a graduate of Angelo State University, and is licensed by the Texas Society of Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also serves as a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Kay Gudgell, MSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Kay’s 30 years of healthcare experience includes long-term care, home health, medical surgical, labor and delivery, and nursery care. She began her nursing career as an LVN in 1994 before earning her associate’s degree in nursing from Amarillo College and becoming a registered nurse in 1999. She went on to earn her master’s degree in nursing from Walden University in 2024. She previously served as Director of Nursing at Hereford Nursing & Rehab and OB Director for Hereford Regional Medical Center.
Her commitment to the Hereford community extends beyond the walls of the hospital, where she has served as a volunteer for Relay for Life and at the Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center.
A message from our CEO
Deaf Smith County Hospital District upholds the highest standards of customer service and professional conduct and delivers world-class health care to our community. On behalf of your friends and neighbors who have made it their personal mission to provide care in our community, we welcome you to Hereford Regional Medical Center and Hereford Health Clinic. We understand that in most cases, our community has a choice where they receive health care services, and we value the opportunity to serve you. We also understand that our customers expect and deserve the best.
Our mission is to be the provider of choice for Hereford and the surrounding area. Satisfied customers are essential to our success. If there is anything, I can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
