Platte Valley Medical Center President John Hicks will retire Jan. 7. The hospital made the statement in a press release .

Hicks has been with the hospital for 26 years. He helped oversee the move of the facility from downtown Brighton to its present location in the Prairie Center.

The press statement listed some of Hicks' accomplishments, including the construction of the present facility, becoming part of the SCL Health system and its response to the ongoing pandemic.

"I followed a calling in coming to Platte Valley Medical Center,” Hicks said in the press statement, “I have been honored and humbled to serve as president of Platte Valley, and I could not be more proud of the team and folks that I have had the privilege of working with over the years."

Hicks went on to say he'll be "following another calling that will allow me to continue to exercise my skills within the international healthcare community as well as the Adventist church.".

"As I  leave this chapter with Platte Valley, I look forward to my next great adventure," he said. 

"I am grateful to John for the ample time he has provided in sharing the news of his retirement,” said Mark Korth, SCL Health’s executive vice president and chief operating officer in the statement. “I look forward to identifying a leader who will continue to build on the foundation of success at Platte Valley Medical Center. I celebrate John’s leadership, his many accomplishments, and his upcoming retirement.”

The search for a new president for Platte Valley Medical Center will begin in the coming weeks.