Haywood Regional Medical Center announced a new CEO this week.
Sue Shugart will start as chief executive officer on May 26. She has been in healthcare for more than 20 years, according to a press release, and most recently served as CEO of Rutherford Regional Health System in Rutherford, N.C.
Shugart will also serve as “market president” for HRMC, Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, and Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City.
Andie Robbins, regional director of marketing and communications explained the market president role “introduces market leadership oversight as we work to ensure that, together, we are providing expanded access to care across our region.” Harris Regional, Haywood Regional Medical Center, and the Swain hospital are all Duke LifePoint facilities and will continue to have their own boards and leadership teams.
Chris Brown, the departing Haywood CEO, has been serving in the market president role for a year, Robbins said in an email.
“This will help us in strategically ensuring we are aligning our efforts in service to our patients and families and strengthens our efforts to recruit providers, provide additional services, and leverage the services we offer at all three facilities to the region as a whole,” Robbins said in an email.
Shugart will “lead strategic alignment across the three facilities” in collaboration with current CEO of Jackson and Swain County hospitals, Ashley Hindman, according to a spokesperson.
Hindman became CEO in 2023, BPR previously reported.
“I am honored to join HRMC and to serve the broader Haywood, Harris, and Swain market in this new capacity,” Shugart said in a press release. “This region is filled with talented, mission-driven teams who care deeply about their communities. I look forward to working alongside them to strengthen access, advance quality, and ensure excellent care for the people we serve.”
For-profit Duke LifePoint purchased the hospital system in 2014. Then in 2018, LifePoint Health was purchased by RCCH Healthcare which operates in 12 states and is owned by private equity firm Apollo Management Group.
Shugart is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a certified professional in patient safety.
