The Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) installed Scott Steiner, FACHE, President and CEO of Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany, as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the association’s Annual Meeting of the Assembly on July 11. Steiner, who has served on the GHA Board since 2021, will lead the Board in fulfilling its vision of shaping a healthier Georgia by serving as the leading advocate and supporter for all Georgia hospitals and health systems.

Steiner succeeds Wellstar Health System’s Executive Vice President (EVP) of Acute Care Operations and Interim System Chief Nurse Executive Mary Chatman, PhD, RN, who will serve as Immediate Past Chair. Chatman was also appointed to serve as a Delegate to the American Hospital Association (AHA) Regional Policy Board.

Coffee Regional Medical Center’s President and CEO Vicki Lewis was elected by the GHA membership as Chair-Elect.

The 2025-2026 GHA Board of Trustees includes:

Executive Committee

• Chair: Scott Steiner, FACHE – President and CEO, Phoebe Putney Health System

• Chair-Elect: Vicki Lewis, FACHE – President and CEO, Coffee Regional Medical Center

• Immediate Past Chair and AHA Region 4 Policy Board Delegate: Mary Chatman, PhD, RN – EVP, Acute Care Operations and Interim System Chief Nurse Executive, Wellstar Health System

• AHA Region 4 Policy Board Delegate: Kevin Bierschenk – CEO, Union General Health System

• Governing Board Representative: Lee Lewis – Trustee, Appling Healthcare

• GHA President and CEO: Caylee Noggle At-Large Trustees

• Brad Talbert, FACHE – CEO, Memorial Health• Francine Witt, DNP, MBA, LNHA, RN – President and CEO, Effingham Health System

• Delvecchio Finley, MPP, FACHE – President, Georgia Market, Atrium Health

• Bill Lee – CEO, Evans Memorial Hospital

• *Heather Dexter, MSHA, MBA, FACHE – President, Emory Healthcare Regional Hospital Division

• *Billy Hayes – CEO, Northside Hospital Cherokee

• *Damien Scott, PT, MBA, MS, FACHE – CEO, Emanuel Medical Center

• *Stonish Pierce, FACHE – President and CEO, Trinity Health Georgia (THGA)

• *Isaac Sendros – President and CEO, AdventHealth Georgia and AdventHealth Redmond Ex-Officio Council Chair Trustees

• Post-Acute Care Council: Eric Crossan, MHA, OT – CEO, Rehabilitation Hospital of Augusta

• Behavioral Health Council: Sally Perry, LPC – Regional Vice President, Universal Health Services, Inc.

• Rural Health Council: Angela Stiggins, MBA, RRT, RCP – Administrator, CHI Memorial Hospital of Georgia Governing Board Representatives

• Maureen Yearta, EdD – Trustee, Colquitt Regional Medical Center

• *Steve Rowe – Trustee, Union General Health System

*Denotes newly appointed/elected Board member

“The GHA Board serves as the governing body of GHA and advocates on behalf of the entire membership to advance healthcare in our state, including promoting access to high-quality care for all Georgians,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “The varied backgrounds, experiences, and leadership skills of these healthcare leaders will help us achieve our goals, and we are honored to have them join our Board."