Posted on October 9, 2020
National association honors Mary Free Bed CEO with Leadership Award
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) has recognized Kent Riddle, president and CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, with the AMRPA National Leadership Excellence Award. The announcement was made Oct. 8 at AMPRA’s virtual Fall Educational Conference and Expo, where the medical rehabilitation industry celebrates excellence in the field.
The AMRPA National Leadership Excellence Award recognizes an individual who has exemplified outstanding service and made significant contributions to the field of medical rehabilitation.
Explaining his impact on medical rehabilitation, the colleague who nominated Riddle for the award said, “Kent is a servant leader and has channeled his passionate and personal mission to ensure quality rehabilitation care for all people who need it with humility and grace.”
Kent first came to know Mary Free Bed in the summer of 2002 after his wife, Susan, sustained a serious brain injury in an auto crash. As he witnessed Susan “get her life back,” Kent was moved to leave a successful business career and devote himself to helping others receive the benefits of rehabilitation.
In a marriage of kindred spirits, Kent became Mary Free Bed CEO in 2011. Since then, the number of employees has increased by 145%. Leading with his heart, Kent has been the motivating force that’s resulted in the creation of new programs, the extension of services and ultimately an increase of 775% in the number of patients served by Mary Free Bed.
“There’s not a field of medicine that gives people their lives back like rehabilitation,” Riddle said. “I’m so grateful to this field, the association and those giving me this award.”
