Sunwest Bank has named Donika McKelvie as Managing Director, National Healthcare. She brings more than three decades of healthcare finance experience to the newly created role.

At Sunwest, McKelvie will lead the launch of a national healthcare platform focused on middle-market healthcare providers across the continuum of care. The initiative aims to support providers in expanding operations, improving cash flow and maintaining a focus on quality patient care.

“We are very excited to welcome Donika to the Sunwest Bank team and launch a specialty healthcare group,” said Carson Lappetito, President of Sunwest Bank. “Her decades of healthcare and finance experience, strong leadership qualities and client management skills will enhance Sunwest’s client experience and our presence in the healthcare industry. As part of this group, Sunwest will launch its first Denver office, further expanding our footprint across the Western US.”

Before joining Sunwest, McKelvie served as Managing Director, Head of Healthcare at HTLF Bank, where she helped build a national healthcare banking platform. Her team reviewed more than $3 billion in loan requests, with the portfolio reaching approximately $500 million in outstandings.

She has also held senior roles in healthcare finance at Greystone Funding, MB Financial Bank and Opus Bank.

McKelvie holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She is a member of several industry associations, including the Association for Corporate Growth (Los Angeles chapter), Secured Finance Network, TMA, RMA, HFMA, NIC, CAHF and CHCA.

“Our healthcare providers across the gamut need a bank that is responsive to their cash flow needs,” said McKelvie. “My entire career I have watched providers struggle with sophisticated payers to get paid for providing care in a timely manner and in the full amounts contractually due to them. Sunwest Bank’s mission aligns so well with a provider and it’s timely. We are not an old, clunky bank but rather a nimble, responsive one with actual healthcare expertise on the team.”