New board members join Memorial Medical Center Foundation in Jasper
Two community leaders were added to the Memorial Medical Center Foundation board, strengthening local philanthropic support for hospital services and community health.
The Memorial Medical Center Foundation announced the addition of Craig Buse and Clara Fromme to its Board of Directors on Jan. 12, 2026, a move the foundation framed as bolstering local leadership for philanthropy and health services in Dubois County.
Buse, who joined Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company in 2002 and now serves as president and CEO, brings a career rooted in community banking, technology and strategic planning. The foundation noted his focus on innovation and relationship-driven service as assets for financial stewardship and future fundraising initiatives.
Fromme, a lifelong educator and volunteer, joins as an ex-officio member in her role as active President of the Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary. She taught English at Jasper High School for more than three decades, chaired the English Department for 25 years, and helped launch dual-credit programs, a Shakespearean Festival and recognition programs including the Derexa King Award. Her decades-long ties to schools, families and volunteer networks deepen the foundation’s connection to community volunteers and local civic institutions.
“Craig and Clara are great additions to our board and bring a unique blend of financial expertise, technological insight, and community-focused leadership,” said Michael Kern, Chair of the Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board.
The foundation emphasized its long history of stewarding philanthropic gifts to advance Deaconess Memorial Medical Center’s services. In practical terms for Dubois County residents, that stewardship has contributed to capital projects, equipment purchases and programs that supplement hospital budgets and expand patient services beyond what public funding alone can provide.
Local implications extend beyond fundraising names. Buse’s background in technology and strategic planning could help modernize giving platforms, donor engagement and financial oversight, while Fromme’s community roots and auxiliary leadership may strengthen volunteer recruitment, school-hospital partnerships and intergenerational outreach. Those changes can influence access to services, particularly for populations who rely on community-based support for transportation, preventive care and follow-up services.
At the same time, reliance on philanthropy raises policy and equity questions for local healthcare: how gifts are allocated, which programs receive priority, and how to ensure residents across Dubois County benefit fairly. Community leaders and health advocates will want clarity from the foundation on funding priorities and measures that track impact across age groups, ZIP codes and income levels.
The announcement included the foundation’s current board roster and information for those seeking more detail. For residents interested in how philanthropic dollars shape local care, consider attending foundation or auxiliary events, reach out to the foundation office, or ask hospital leaders how donated funds are used to support services you and your neighbors rely on.
Our two cents? Keep asking where the dollars go and get involved locally—volunteers and informed donors are the community’s best lever to shape equitable care in Dubois County.
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