Darren Pearce Named CEO of Navicent Health Baldwin
Pearce Also to Serve as Senior VP of Rural Health Network, Atrium Health NavicentOn Thursday, November 2 at a small ceremony at Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin (NHB) in Milledgeville, Ga., Atrium Health Navicent named Darren Pearce Chief Executive Officer of the Milledgeville hospital. Pearce has served as interim CEO of NHB since Atrium Health Navicent purchased the hospital, then known as Oconee Regional Medical Center, on October 1, 2017.
"With the purchase of Oconee Regional Medical Center, now known as Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, we began a national search for a CEO. As we went through this process, it was plain to see the person for the job was right here among us. Darren has a heart for rural healthcare and a proven track record for establishing rural and critical access hospitals. We are thrilled that he has accepted the position of CEO for Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin and look forward to bright days for this hospital under his leadership," said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Atrium Health Navicent.
Pearce, who also serves as Senior Vice President of Rural Health Network, Atrium Health Navicent, has been instrumental in building and strengthening other rural and critical access hospitals within the Atrium Health Navicent system, including Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent and Monroe County Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner. He will continue to oversee operations of those two hospitals, each now under the daily management of Chief Administrative Officers.
"There is a lot of potential for Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, room for growth and expanded services that will benefit Baldwin County as well as the surrounding region. We have great plans for this hospital that include the expansion of services and the recruitment of new physicians to the area," said Pearce.
A native of Florida, Pearce is a U.S. Navy veteran. After earning his BSN and MBA from Valdosta State Univeristy (Valdosta, Ga.), Pearce began his career as a surgical/neurological intensive care nurse. Pearce was named Executive Director of Rehabilitation Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent in 2013. In 2015, he was named CAO of Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent. In 2016, he was promoted to Vice President of Ambulatory Services for Atrium Health Navicent, and also named interim CAO of Monroe County Hospital. This year, he was named Senior Vice President of Rural Health Network, Atrium Health Navicent. He also serves on Georgia Hospital Association's Center for Rural Health Board of Trustees.
Atrium Health Navicent purchased the bankrupt Oconee Regional Medical Center in October of this year, winning a bid for the struggling Milledgeville hospital. Since assuming leadership of the hospital - now known as Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin - on October 2, 2017, leaders including Peaerce have worked with members of the community to establish and implement a plan to create a viable source of care for the residents of Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Putnam, Washington and Wilkerson Counties.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent was incorporated on November 17, 1994, as a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to coordinate The Medical Center, Navicent Health and other affiliated entities in their mission of providing a comprehensive continuum of high quality, reasonably priced healthcare services to the region. Atrium Health Navicent has 970 beds for medical, surgical, rehabilitation and hospice purposes. The health system includes The Medical Center, Navicent Health, a nationally recognized tertiary teaching hospital; Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, the region's only dedicated pediatric hospital; Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin and Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent, both rural critical access hospitals; Rehabilitation Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent, the region's oldest and most experienced rehabilitation provider; Pine Pointe, Atrium Health Navicent, which provides palliative and hospice care in homes and in its facility; Carlyle Place, Atrium Health Navicent, the area's first continuing care retirement community; Navicent Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Atrium Health Navicent; as well as diagnostic and home care services. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.