René Kougel Named Chief Operating Officer of HealthNet

6/28/2019

After a national search, HealthNet has named René Kougel, MBA, BSN, RN, as the organization’s new Chief Operating Officer, effective Aug. 5, 2019. She succeeds Sonja Bachus, who became President/CEO of Greater Baden Medical Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Brandywine, MD, in April.

Kougel will manage the day-to-day operations of one of the state’s largest federally qualified health centers. HealthNet provides care annually to nearly 60,000 uninsured and underinsured patients in Marion County and beyond through its growing network of 9 primary care health centers and several outreach programs.

Kougel has more than 20 years of experience in health care management. For the past five years, she has served as Chief Operations Officer for Indiana Health Centers, Inc., a federally qualified health center providing primary health care, outreach and behavioral health services through its 10 community health centers across Indiana.

Before joining Indiana Health Centers, Kougel served as a health center manager at HealthNet, overseeing the Pediatric & Adolescent Care Center, Martindale-Brightwood Health Center, Northeast Health Center and Eastside Health Centers. Prior to this role, she served as Clinic Supervisor of Rigg’s Community Health Center in Lafayette, IN.

In announcing the selection, HealthNet President/CEO Rick Diaz said, “We are very pleased that René has accepted this role. She has a very clear vision for the critical role community health centers play as safety net providers and has the ability to turn this vision into action. René will be a true asset to HealthNet and the many patients we serve.”

“I am honored to be a part of HealthNet again, and am excited to work with the leadership team, Board of Directors, health care providers, patients and staff to address the health care challenges of our day,” said Kougel. “This is an amazing time of opportunity for community health centers and I feel we are uniquely positioned to meet the growing needs of the uninsured and underinsured in Indianapolis.”  

Kougel has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Purdue University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.