About Us
Meet our dedicated team and find out what makes Rural Wellness Fairfax such a special place for our community and our patients.
About Rural Wellness Leadership
Dr. Elizabeth J. Pusey, Founder and President
A practicing radiologist with decades of experience, Dr. Elizabeth Pusey founded Rural Wellness, Inc. when her passion for accessible rural healthcare brought her to purchase a struggling critical access hospital in Fairfax, OK. Inspired by the dedication of the staff and community who had worked together to keep the hospital’s doors open, Dr. Pusey invested in many advancements and expansions to turn the hospital around.
Since then, Rural Wellness has expanded to include two other Oklahoma critical access hospitals in Stroud and Anadarko with the mission of bringing top-quality healthcare to the communities that need it. Dr. Pusey works alongside Avem Health Partners, an Oklahoma City-based hospital management group, to lead operations.
At home in California, Dr. Pusey spends her time managing her radiology practice with a focus on women’s health, playing board games with her three children, and reading fiction.
Hunter Thoms, Chief Executive Officer
Since joining Avem Health Partners in 2015, Hunter has established himself as a healthcare leader. With a proven track record of developing strong, collaborative relationships and creating sustainable solutions, Hunter was one of 10% of applicants selected for the National Rural Health Association’s CEO certification program. Hunter has overseen many successful projects from small scale construction, to implementing facility-wide electronic health records, to finding the perfect sugar-free dessert for the hospital cafeteria (after many samples, he chose the cheesecake, cupcake, and chocolate mousse from the Mercantile).
In his spare time, Hunter enjoys spending quality time with his wife and daughter, and outdoor activities with their two dogs. With an innate curiosity and a desire to learn, Hunter enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures, and picking up new skills along the way.
About Our Governing Board
Rural Wellness Fairfax is proud to have board members committed to investing in the future success and growth of our community for generations to come. All of our board members are active civic leaders in the Rural Wellness Fairfax service area, and they challenge us every day to think of better solutions and bring the highest quality care to our local community.
James I. Graham, D.O.
Dr. Graham is our dedicated Medical Director. He is also Medical Director of Osage County HD, ONHL Hospice, and Fairfax Manor Nursing Home in addition to sitting on the Oklahoma Osteopathic Board and the Osage County HD Board. He is an adjunct clinical professor at his alma mater OSU, where he received his B.S. in Cell Biology/Zoology and Doctor of Osteopathy Degree. Dr. Graham has worked at the hospital for 40 years and is excited about the possibilities that innovative new technology can bring to rural community healthcare.
Charlie Cartwright
As a law enforcement officer for 42 years, Charlie has served his community in many roles — from field deputy to chief criminal investigator to sheriff. He is currently Captain assigned to the Osage County Jail. He’s served on Fairfax’s town council for 3 terms, as Vice Mayor for 6 years, and as Mayor one and a half times. Charlie is a family man who is married with two children, a son and a daughter. His vision for the hospital is to see it thrive as it builds a greater relationship with the community, including more community involvement.
Debi Barnard
Ms. Barnard spent 32 years at Fairfax Community Hospital as a lab tech and manager before retiring in 2017. While serving as lab manager, she was asked to take on the role of radiology manager as well. She moved to Mobile, AL for months to learn ultra-sonography and help implement those services at home, a testament to her passion for the hospital, the town, and the community. It worries her to think what Fairfax would be like without the hospital and the jobs it provides and she is committed to its continued success and growth.
Our Healthcare Team
Our staff includes physicians and providers representing a range of medical training and experience, as well as caring and experienced physicians assistants, nurses, and support staff that are equipped and ready to serve the Fairfax community. All of our healthcare team members work tirelessly to ensure your experience at Rural Wellness Fairfax is a happy one.
About Rural Wellness Fairfax
Not long ago, our story seemed to be one that is all too common in rural communities across the country — the story of a struggling small town hospital without the financial resources, equipment, or patients necessary to keep the lights on and the doors open. The hospital would have closed without the resilience and dedication of its doctors, nurses, and staff working for months without pay while buying medical supplies out of their own pockets. While Rural Wellness Fairfax and Avem Health Partners brought the resources needed to turn the hospital into the top-quality healthcare provider Fairfax deserved, it is still the faithfulness, devotion, and tenacity of the staff that make Rural Wellness Fairfax an exceptional place to receive care.
With a $5 million expansion in the works, Rural Wellness Fairfax is in an exciting period of growth. We have invested in our staff by providing additional healthcare training, team-building experiences, and new equipment such as the new digital X-ray unit and several medical grade air purifiers. As we enter this new chapter, it is our hope that the story of Rural Wellness Fairfax is far from over and that our growth will allow us to be an asset to our town’s independence and a cornerstone of healthcare in our community for many years to come.
Experience Rural Wellness Fairfax
Hospitals can be intimidating. Watch below to find out exactly what you can expect when you or your loved one receives care from our compassionate team. From our top-of-the-line smart beds in every room to our nutritional meals in the cafeteria, we are constantly working to ensure the best possible patient experience.
Check Out Our Latest Expansion
Better Health Care is Our Mission
Every day brings a chance to do things a little better than the day before.
At Rural Wellness Fairfax, we are working hard to meet the needs of our community. You'll see it in improvements, both large and small. You'll feel it with the addition of new staff and enhanced services. And you'll know it from quality and safety of patient care.
Today and everyday, we are here for you.
