KANSAS CITY, MO. — (November 19, 2025) — Research Medical Center, part of HCA Midwest Health, has named Lowell Ebersole, DO, as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Ebersole will oversee clinical operations, drive quality and patient safety initiatives, and foster physician engagement across the hospital. HCA Midwest Health is Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider.
Dr. Ebersole brings more than two decades of experience in hospital leadership and patient care. Most recently, he served as Chief Medical Officer at HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Horizon Medical Center in Dickson, Tennessee, where he successfully advanced clinical excellence, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced care delivery models in partnership with medical staff and nursing leadership.
“Dr. Ebersole’s leadership reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care and physician collaboration,” said Research Medical Center CEO Kirk McCarty. “His clinical expertise, strategic mindset, and passion for innovation make him a strong addition to our executive team.”
A graduate of Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Ebersole completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He has held numerous physician leadership roles at HCA Healthcare and is widely respected for advancing patient safety, evidence-based care, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
As part of Research Medical Center’s broader leadership expansion, the hospital also announces two additional key appointments that further strengthen its commitment to quality, safety, and excellence in patient-centered care.
Venus Buckner, MA, BSN, RN, joins Research Medical Center as Vice President of Quality. She comes from HCA HealthONE Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, where she served as Director of Quality. Buckner previously held roles at Research Medical Center, including Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety Officer. Earlier in her career, she began as a nurse in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
“With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Venus is known for building strong, proactive safety programs and driving meaningful improvements in outcomes and culture,” said McCarty. “Her deep understanding of our hospital’s history and her passion for patient safety make her return feel like a true homecoming.”
Buckner holds a Master of Arts in Health Law and Policy from Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology with a minor in Psychology, both from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.
Tanner Couch, MSN, RN, has been appointed Director of Critical Care. Couch brings more than a decade of nursing and leadership experience across intensive care and acute care settings. Most recently, he served as Manager of Critical Care at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, where he led several initiatives to enhance team collaboration and elevate clinical performance.
“Tanner’s leadership in critical care has been outstanding,” said McCarty. “He brings a strong focus on patient experience, staff development, and operational excellence that aligns perfectly with our mission at Research Medical Center.”
Couch holds a Master of Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Exercise Science from Brigham Young University–Idaho.
About Research Medical Center
Research Medical Center—part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider—serves patients by providing quality healthcare services and access to advanced technology. The hospital, located at 2316 East Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the region’s leading acute care hospitals. The 590-bed facility features a broad range of specialized, state-of-the-art services, including a Level I Trauma Center and Level 1 Time Critical Diagnosis services for stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, heart attack, and sepsis. Research is home to the region’s first accredited stroke center. Other services include the TIA Clinic, Grossman Burn Center, Liver and Pancreas Institute, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute, 24-hour Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospitalists and Emergency Room, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Transplant Institute, fertility specialists, Center for the Relief of Pain, orthopedics, sports medicine, and much more. In addition, the 25-acre Research Brookside Campus, located at 6601 Rockhill Road in Kansas City, Mo., includes an outpatient surgery center, many specialty physicians, and a comprehensive health and fitness center. Research Medical Center and the Brookside Campus provide 24-hour access to Emergency Services and have many primary care and walk-in care providers who offer preventive and wellness services. For more information about Research Medical Center, visit researchmedicalcenter.com and researchbrookside.com.
About HCA Midwest Health
As the Kansas City area’s largest healthcare provider, HCA Midwest Health comprises seven hospitals and dozens of outpatient centers, clinics, physician practices, surgery centers, and other facilities and services to meet area residents’ healthcare needs. HCA Midwest Health is one of the area’s largest employers, with over 10,000 colleagues and a local economic impact of more than $1.4 billion annually. That includes more than $102 million annually in charity and uncompensated care, as well as more than $200 million in federal, state, and local taxes to help improve the schools, roads, and infrastructure of the communities we serve. HCA Midwest Health facilities include Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Belton Regional Medical Center, Lafayette Regional Health Center, and Research Psychiatric Center. HCA Midwest Physicians, part of HCA Midwest Health, is a network of experienced, multi-specialty physicians throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Currently, HCA Midwest Physicians represents nearly 600 providers. It includes over 80 specialties, providing care in more than 150 locations to serve our community. The physicians, licensed professionals, and support staff who comprise the HCA Midwest Health team are dedicated to improving healthcare in the Greater Kansas City area and its surrounding communities to create healthier communities that lead to healthier tomorrows. For more information, visit hcamidwest.com