KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES, SECRETARY LAURA HOWARD, ANNOUNCES THAT THE AGENCY HAS APPOINTED ASHLEY BYRAM TO SERVE AS SUPERINTENDENT AT OSAWATOMIE STATE HOSPITAL, EFFECTIVE YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 3rd. BYRAM WAS APPOINTED AFTER SERVING IN VARIOUS ROLES DURING HER 15-YEAR CAREER AT THE HOSPITAL THAT BEGAN IN 2005, INCLUDING SOCIAL WORK SPECIALIST AND SUPERVISOR, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES. HER MOST RECENT ROLE WAS A PROMOTION TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT IN MARCH THIS YEAR. BYRAM WORKED OUTSIDE OSAWATOMIE STATE FOR TWO YEARS AS A SOCIAL WORKER AT MEADOWBROOK REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN GARDNER.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, KRISTIN FEEBACK, IN OCTOBER 2021. PARSONS STATE HOSPITAL SUPERINTENDENT AND STATE HOSPITAL COMMISSIONER MIKE DIXON WAS NAMED TO LEAD THE HOSPITAL IN AN INTERIM ROLE UNTIL A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT WAS FOUND.
