Bryan Mierau has been named executive director of the Center for Healing & Hope, which provides medical care and advocacy for people in need in Elkhart and Goshen.

Bryan currently is executive director of The Residence at Waterford Crossing in Goshen, a role he has held since 2008. He will begin the new assignment on October 17.

Tim Stair, chair of the Center for Healing & Hope board of directors, said, “Bryan has a strong background in faith-based community not-for-profits with exceptional experience in healthcare. He also brings a great combination of operational expertise, creative and strategic planning skills and a lively faith. We are looking forward to the future of the Center with his leadership.”

“I have enjoyed the career path I have been on in healthcare administration, but see this new work with the Center for Healing & Hope as a calling beyond a career,” Bryan said. “I feel drawn to working with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and want to collaborate with other not-for-profit leaders in the area. I look forward to extending the mission of Jesus and CHH to those in our communities who are in need of our services—through existing health-related programs and opportunities yet to be discovered!”

Previous to the eight years he has been at Waterford Crossing, Bryan served in a variety of healthcare administrative roles, including nursing director of the former Subacute Unit and the Medical-Surgical units of Goshen Hospital (now Goshen Health), director of nursing at St. Paul’s Retirement Village in South Bend, Ind., and director of nursing of healthcare at Greencroft in Goshen. He also has been a pastor and a critical care nurse in Texas.

Bryan is both a licensed health facility administrator and certified nursing administrator. In 2014, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Leadership from Goshen College.

Bryan has been a member of the Goshen Noon Kiwanis Club and currently participates on the Advisory Board of the Goshen AKtion Club. He and Lou, his wife, attend Harvest Community Church in Goshen. They have four married children and seven grandchildren.

Rebecca Gascho, who held the position of executive director of CHH since January 2015, retired on September 30.