Karen Bankston, Ph.D., M.S.N., F.A.C.H.E.
Senior Vice President/Site Executive
Dr. Bankston is responsible for daily operations and strategic direction of Drake Center. She has nearly 30 years of health care experience.
She is actively involved in the community and has earned numerous awards. She serves on the National Association of Health Services Executives (where she is president), YWCA, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and the Health Foundation Fund (InterAct for Change).
Dr. Bankston was recently elected to a three-year term on the governing council of the American Hospital Association’s Section for Long-Term Care & Rehabilitation which advises AHA on policy issues, advocacy positions, emerging issues and member service strategies. She also participated as a member of a national task force to assist the Center for Medicare and Medicaid with identifying criteria for admission to post-acute care services.
Locally, she is involved in the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Agenda 360 Plan for Public Health and has played a role in changing medication distribution legislation for the for the charitable pharmacy established by St. Vincent DePaul. She is former chair and a member of the board of the Center for Closing the Health Gap and was responsible for the formation of this organization. She led United Way’s Oral Health Initiative which created the foundation for a regional approach to dental services in the organization’s eight-county region.
She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Kent State University and her doctorate degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Amy Sper
Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer
Amy Sper, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A., has seven years’ experience in various nursing administration positions, including nurse manager and director of patient care. She also spent several years as a consultant for major insurance companies.
She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the College of Mount St. Joseph and her master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University.
Terry Dunn
Vice President of Operations & Chief Quality Officer
Terry Dunn has 20 years' experience as a health care manager and consultant for businesses ranging from eight-member physician groups to 1,400-bed teaching hospitals and healthcare systems. He is a board-certified professional in healthcare quality (CPHQ) and a Six Sigma black belt.
He holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky.
Donald Benson, M.D.
Medical Director, Hospitalist Program
Dr. Benson is responsible for coordinating the hospitalist physician team in providing the highest quality of patient care on Drake Center’s medically complex long-term acute care units.
He has experience as a director of hospital services and hospitalist operations, in private practice and as a medical records consultant.
Dr. Benson is board certified in internal medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians and the Ohio State Medical Association. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.
Mark Goddard, M.D.
Medical Director, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Goddard works directly with the medical and clinical staff to enhance patient care and outcomes, and is responsible for establishment and implementation of programs for quality, safety and continuity of care.
He is chair of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a physiatrist at Cincinnati’s Neuroscience Institute.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and completed his residency at Northwestern University’s Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Craig Rice
Vice President of Advancement, President of The Drake Foundation
In addition to his role as vice president of advancement, Craig Rice supervises pastoral care, volunteer services and support group interaction.
He has more than 30 years’ experience as a non-profit executive and development professional. He served as a church pastor for 20 years, as a senior fund-raising consultant and as vice presidents of development and community relations for community programs and higher education, respectively.
Mr. Rice holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s and doctorate from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
Sharon Hancock
Director of Human Resources
Sharon Hancock has 35 years’ healthcare experience both as a clinician and human resources professional.
She is a member of the Society of HR Management, the Greater Cincinnati HR Association and the Greater Cincinnati Health Council’s Diversity Recruitment Council. She has certifications in Human Resources Management, Senior HR Management and PHR.
She earned her bachelor’s of science degree in human resources management from the University of Cincinnati and is currently working toward her master’s in human resources management from the same school.
Lori Deaton
Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Business Development
Lori Deaton has 16 years’ experience, including more than 10 years with the Health Alliance. She has served as manager of public relations and marketing for Fort Hamilton Hospital, senior consultant for the orthopedic service line and data analyst. She previously served as a communications manager account executive for a PR firm.
Lori earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University.
Nancy Binder
Director of Finance
Nancy Binder has served as finance budget manager for The University Hospital and has worked at the Health Alliance Business Center in the organizational effectiveness, clinical resource management and finance departments. She also has experience as a respiratory therapist/critical care coordinator for The University Hospital NICU.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Allied Health from the University of Texas and her master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University.