Dr. Susan Mims has been named the chief executive officer of Dogwood Health Trust – she’s been the interim CEO for just over a year.
The nonprofit foundation is the result of the 2019 sale of Mission Health to Nashville-based HCA Healthcare.
“Over the past year, I have been inspired by the commitment, creativity and willingness to work together that I’ve seen within Dogwood’s board and staff, and more importantly among a growing number of partners who share our commitment to dramatically improve health and wellbeing of all people and communities of Western North Carolina,” said Mims. “I look forward to continuing to work with our community partners and with the strong team we have put in place over the past year, so that together we can ensure a healthier region for generations to come.”
Mims was chair of the department of community and public health at MAHEC. Previously, she was chief of pediatrics at Mission Hospital and back in 2000 she served as Buncombe County’s medical director.
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation that says its mission is “improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina.”
The search committee worked on a five-month national search with WittKieffer, a global executive search firm. WittKeiffer identified and researched more than 400 potential prospects before selecting 16 prospects for the search committee to evaluate. The committee selected four candidates to advance for final consideration.
Dogwood’s Board of Directors appointed a search committee in September 2021 whose members included directors: Jackie Godlock (Rutherford), Dawna Goode-Ledbetter (McDowell), Bishop Jose McLoughlin (Henderson), and Jackie Simms (Buncombe). Martha Tyner (Yancey) and Casey Cooper (Qualla Boundary) served as co-chairs, and Board Chair Janice Brumit served in an ex officio role.
