TOPEKA – Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Rob Siedlecki announced Monday the appointment of Dr. Christopher Burke as superintendent of Larned State Hospital and Steve Ashcraft as superintendent at Osawatomie State Hospital and Rainbow Mental Health Facility.

Dr. Christopher Burke holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Burke has been with Larned State Hospital since 2005 and has served as both a Human Service Counselor and Administrative Program Director for the Sexual Predator Treatment Program.

Along with this experience, Dr. Burke will draw from significant previous mental health experiences in both state and private facilities in Washington State, Connecticut, and New Mexico to guide LSH toward greater efficiency and improved patient care.

Secretary Siedlecki also announced the appointment of Steven Ashcraft as superintendent of Osawatomie State Hospital & Rainbow Mental Health Facility. Ashcraft has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, PA, and undergraduate majors in Psychology, Business Administration, and Russian Language.

He has been with SRS since June 2011 as the Director of Hospitals Coordination, and has over 30 year’s management experience in various hospitals, ranging from a 750 bed teaching hospital, to small rural hospitals and HMOs. He has worked in several States in the Midwest and southeastern portions of the United States, and been in Kansas since 1985. He is a Kansas licensed Adult Care (Nursing) Home Administrator, and is certified in Assisted Living.

“I’m proud to have such highly qualified individuals serving our hospitals,” said Secretary Siedlecki. “I have complete faith that Chris and Steve will strengthen the operations in our institutions to deliver the highest quality of care for the people of Kansas.”