Navicent Health Baldwins Chief Operating Officer Paul W. Barkley, Sr. Graduates from Leadership GHA
Paul W. Barkley, Sr., Chief Operating Officer for Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, graduated from Leadership GHA, a prestigious health care leadership program of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA). Barkley was one of only 19 healthcare leaders from across the state to graduate with the Class of 2019-2020 on Friday, January 10, 2020.
"Completing the rigorous Leadership GHA program allows graduates to develop essential skills to help them advance in their healthcare careers and, ultimately, take patient care to the next level. We congratulate each of these future leaders," said GHA President and CEO Earl Rogers.
Barkley has over 30 years of management and leadership experience, spending the past 28 years with Atrium Health Navicent in a variety of leadership roles. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Mercer University, a B.S. in Biology from Georgia Southern University and a B.S. in Medical Technology from the Medical College of Georgia. He is board-certified as a medical technologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Barkley also served in the U.S. Air Force and Georgia Air National Guard for nine years as a non-commissioned officer.
Barkley is an Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers certified Six Sigma Black Belt and is a member of the 2014 Atrium Health Navicent Leadership Academy cohort. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA).
Responding to the need to develop new leaders for hospitals and healthcare systems across Georgia, the GHA Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed the creation of Leadership GHA in 2003. The six-month program, which begins each summer, uses a variety of techniques to educate participants on the unique and diverse issues that characterize Georgia's healthcare system. The program includes workshops, conferences, panel discussions and field trips to different types of hospitals and health systems throughout the state.
"Participating in the Leadership GHA program was truly a meaningful experience. The program displays a wide range of healthcare challenges, opportunities and solutions within the state of Georgia. Touring other healthcare facilities across the state, observing how others implement best practices, operate their facilities and network with other medical professionals has helped enrich my own professional development. The program and my class peers have exposed novel and alternative remedies to consider when tackling the complex challenges routinely faced when delivering healthcare to our patients," said Barkley.
Graduates of Leadership GHA are encouraged to use their newly acquired skills to transform and improve Georgia's healthcare system and their individual communities. To qualify for participation in the Leadership GHA program, individuals from Georgia hospitals and health systems must be nominated by GHA-member hospital CEOs. An impartial selection committee reviews the nomination applications and selects a limited number of participants for the program.
About GHA
Founded in 1929, GHA serves more than 170 hospitals in Georgia and promotes the health and welfare of the public through the development of better hospital care for all Georgia's citizens. The mission of GHA is to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all Georgia hospitals and health care systems. GHA represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association. For more information, please call 770-249-4500 or visit gha.org.
About Atrium Health Navicent Atrium Health Navicent, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Atrium Health Navicent provides care for healthcare consumers' through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Atrium Health Navicent is dedicated enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally-recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.