Mary Chatman, PhD, RN, was installed as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) earlier this month. Chatman, who has served on the GHA Board since February 2020, will lead the Board in developing strategies for GHA hospital members, advocating for the highest quality care for patients, and supporting adequate reimbursement for hospitals. She succeeds Dan Owens, who most recently served as CEO of Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta and Emory University Hospital Smyrna.

Scott Steiner, president and CEO of Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, was named Chair-Elect. Don Avery, CEO of Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, will serve as Immediate Past Chair.

Other board appointments are as follows 

At-Large Trustees:

• Charles Briscoe, MBA, MHA, FACHE, CEO, Houston Healthcare, Warner Robins

• Delvecchio S. Finley, MPP, FACHE, President and CEO, Atrium Health Navicent, Macon

• Sally Perry, Regional Vice President, Universal Health Services, Savannah

• Chris Self, President and CEO, AdventHealth Gordon and AdventHealth Murray, Calhoun

• Angela Stiggins, MBA, RRT, RCP, CHI Memorial Market VP of Operations/CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia Administrator, CHI Memorial Hospital of Georgia, Fort Oglethorpe

• Bradley (Brad) S. Talbert, FACHE, CEO, Memorial Health, Savannah

• Dr. Francine (Fran) Witt, DNP, MBA, LNHA, RN, CEO, Effingham Health System, Springfield

Governing Board Representatives:

• Lee Lewis, Trustee, Appling Healthcare, Baxley

• J. Michael (Mike) Levengood, Trustee, Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Lawrenceville

• Dr. Maureen Yearta, Trustee, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Moultrie

The new board members will sustain GHA’s mission to ensure quality health care to all Georgia residents.

“The GHA Board works to develop effective strategies to advance health care in our state, and these new members bring aptitude and experience that will help us achieve that goal,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “These influential leaders play key roles in supporting our efforts, and we are pleased to have them join the Board.”

Members returning to the GHA Board of Trustees are as follows:

American Hospital Association Regional Delegate:

• Kevin L. Bierschenk, CEO of Union General Hospital in Blairsville

• Vicki Lewis, FACHE, president and CEO of Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas 

Governing Board Representative

• Michael Levengood, trustee at Northside Hospital in Atlanta 

At-Large Trustees:

• Eric R. Crossan, MHA, OT, CEO, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, Augusta

• Bill Lee, CEO of Evans Memorial Hospital, Claxton

• Tammy Mims, CEO of Liberty Regional Medical Center, Hinesville

• Scott Raynes, president and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System, Brunswick

• Melody Trimble, CEO of St. Francis-Emory Healthcare in Columbus