Newsworthy

Stormont Vail Health has named Jay Howard as the new Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer for the regional integrated healthcare system that includes acute care hospitals in Topeka and Junction City, and multiple primary and specialty care centers and clinics across eastern Kansas.

Timothy Shultz has been promoted to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Previously, he has served as Associate General Counsel/System Director for Stormont Vail.

Both begin their new duties March 1, 2026.

Howard has more than 30 years of legal experience, with all of that time devoted to healthcare law representing hospitals and health systems. He has been with Polsinelli PC since 1998, serving as an equity shareholder in the firm’s Health Law Department since 2000. Prior to that, Howard worked as an associate for Shook Hardy & Bacon, LLP. He is admitted to practice law in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Howard received his LL.M. in healthcare from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and his law degree from Washburn University School of Law. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. Howard is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association; American Bar Association, Health Law Section; Kansas Bar Association, Past President, Health Law Section; and Greater Kansas City Society of Healthcare Attorneys.

While in private practice, Howard achieved an AV® peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell, was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America ® for Health Care Law, from 2011-2026, and he is ranked in Chambers USA:  America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Healthcare, Missouri 2022-2025.  Howard was selected as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Healthcare in Kansas City, 2022.  In 2026, he was recognized as a Stellar Performance Lawyer by Thomson Reuters.

Shultz has been Associate General Counsel at Stormont Vail since December 2021. Prior to that he served as an attorney and managing partner at Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer LLP, where he provided legal services for Stormont Vail Health and other health providers and clients, and earlier was an attorney with various law firms and where his practice included health law, business, banking and litigation around the middle United States.

Shultz is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Washburn. He is admitted to practice law in Kansas and Missouri, and is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel, and serves on the boards of several community organizations.

“We are thrilled to have Jay Howard join Stormont Vail Health in this executive role as we expand our integrated healthcare network in Kansas. It’s a double win to promote Tim Shultz into a vice president position with greater responsibility at the same time. The combination of the two will really strengthen our organization,” said Mark Slyter, President and Chief Executive Officer.