Mike Berney Named Trustee of the Year by Nevada Hospital Association

Congratulations to Banner Churchill Community Hospital’s own Mike Berney, who was recently named the 2025 Nevada Hospital Association (NHA) Trustee of the Year.

Berney, who has served on Banner Churchill Community Hospital’s (BCCH) Advisory Board for more than 20 years — including 15 years as board chair from 2000 to 2015 — is being recognized for his exceptional leadership and dedication to improving healthcare in Churchill County.

“His commitment and passion for the community is unwavering,” said BCCH Chief Executive Officer Rob Carnahan in a recent interview with the NHA. “Any initiative that is brought to him, he is very committed to following through.”

According to Carnahan, Berney was instrumental in establishing the Churchill Community Hospital Foundation, which supports the health care and wellness needs of residents in Churchill County and surrounding areas. Through its fundraising and outreach, the foundation has helped the hospital upgrade ambulances with state-of-the-art technology and bring Care Flight services to Fallon.

“Mike has been described by colleagues as the cornerstone of the board’s progress,” Carnahan said when the nomination was announced. “His leadership helped guide the hospital through periods of growth, modernization, and community expansion.”

One example of Berney’s impact is the addition of Churchill County’s second ambulance station — the west-side station on Reno Highway that went into service last fall. “Through Mike’s dedication and support, our ability to provide emergency medical services has substantially increased, impacting thousands of lives every year,” said BCCH Ambulance Chief Steve Towne.

Towne added that Berney’s expertise played a key role in the project’s success. “Right from the beginning, Mike was with us and used his knowledge to find the perfect location where we could safely house our EMS crews and respond quickly to emergencies,” Towne said. “We have been able to save lives and make a difference, and that’s a direct reflection of Mike Berney’s dedication to our community and our service.”

Beyond his leadership roles, Berney is known for his generosity, optimism, and ability to inspire others. “He knows everyone in the community, and everyone is drawn to him because of his personality,” said Carnahan. “He is always uplifting anybody who comes and talks to him. They walk away feeling inspired.”

Towne agrees. “Mr. Berney has been very inspirational to our team members here. They put in a lot of hard work and great patient care,” he said, noting how much his hands-on approach is appreciated and respected. “Having someone like Mike Berney doing all he does in our community has been very inspirational for our crews.”

Fallon extends its thanks to Mike Berney for his vision, hard work, and ongoing commitment to improving medical services and health care in Churchill County.

For more about his work and the nomination process, visit thefallonpost.org to read Berney Nominated for Hospital Trustee of the Year Award.