Carolinas HealthCare System Appoints Eugene A Woods
Woods is Chair-Elect of the American Hospital Association
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 11, 2016 – The Board of Commissioners of
Carolinas HealthCare System today unanimously approved the appointment
of Eugene A. Woods as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective
April 28. Mr. Woods, 51, currently is President and Chief Operating
Officer of CHRISTUS Health, based in Irving, Texas. He succeeds Michael
C. Tarwater, CEO since 2002. Mr. Tarwater announced his retirement in
June of 2015 and will remain with Carolinas HealthCare System until
June 30, 2016, to ensure a seamless transition.
Mr. Woods brings to Carolinas HealthCare System 24 years of healthcare
leadership experience. He was recently elected the next chairman of the
American Hospital Association and will assume that role in 2017.
At CHRISTUS Health, which has more than 50 hospitals and long-term care
facilities, 175 clinics and outpatient centers, and 30,000 associates,
Mr. Woods, who is fluent in Spanish, has been responsible for
overseeing acute, post-acute and international operations for its
facilities in the United States, Mexico and Chile.
Prior to that, Mr. Woods served in dual roles at Catholic Health
Initiatives – as CEO of the eight-hospital Saint Joseph Health System
and as Senior Vice President responsible for helping implement national
initiatives for the organization, which operates in 18 states. He also
previously served as COO of the Washington Hospital Center, a 968-bed
teaching hospital in Washington, D.C.
“Gene is a proven leader with extraordinary experience,” said Edward J.
Brown III, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “We know that he is
the right person to lead Carolinas HealthCare System as we continue our
journey as one of the leading healthcare systems in the nation,
providing incredible care to all of the communities we serve.”
Mr. Woods will assume the responsibilities of President and CEO at a
remarkable time in the history of Carolinas HealthCare System, thanks
to the leadership of Michael Tarwater and all system teammates.
“I am honored to be joining Carolinas HealthCare System,” said Mr.
Woods. “This is one of the most comprehensive and highly integrated
healthcare systems in the nation, combining extraordinary care with an
unwavering commitment to the region. Carolinas HealthCare System has a
tremendous track record and is well-positioned to be in the forefront
of the transformation of healthcare in America.”
Carolinas HealthCare System and its more than 60,000 full-time and
part-time employees provide care through more than 11.5 million patient
encounters per year through an integrated network consisting of more
than 900 care locations in North and South Carolina, including 39
hospitals and more than 200 primary care locations. It has been
recognized for providing access to coordinated, high-quality care on a
large scale through nationally renowned clinical quality and IT
programs.
Carolinas HealthCare System has also focused on programs that provide
treatment and promote health in response to identified community needs
such as diabetes risk, childhood obesity and behavioral health. The
programs have served tens of thousands of people, helping to improve
their health while reducing the overall cost of care. In 2015,
Carolinas HealthCare System contributed more than $1.6 billion in
community benefit—which included providing financial assistance to the
uninsured and underinsured, uncompensated medical services, education,
research and volunteer service by its employees, as well as increased
focus on programs that provide treatment and promote health in response
to identified community needs such as diabetes risk and childhood
obesity.
“The Board of Commissioners is extremely grateful to Michael Tarwater
for his outstanding contribution of more than 35 years at Carolinas
HealthCare System,” Mr. Brown said. “During his tenure as CEO, he has
led this organization to remarkable success in providing extraordinary
care, and he has overseen the establishment of landmark clinical
services, including Levine Children’s Hospital and Levine Cancer
Institute. There will be more occasions in the future to thank him and
recognize his extraordinary service.”
To oversee the CEO search process, the Board of Commissioners appointed
a Search Committee chaired by Albert L. McAulay, Jr. The Committee
retained Witt/Kieffer, a renowned leader in healthcare executive
search. The Board of Commissioners is grateful to the Search Committee
for its leadership and wisdom throughout the process.
About Carolinas HealthCare System
Carolinas HealthCare System (www.carolinashealthcare.org), one of the
nation’s leading healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of
healthcare and wellness services and programs throughout North and
South Carolina. Its diverse network includes academic medical centers,
hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices,
surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing
homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative
care services. With more than 60,000 employees, 900 care locations and
11.5 million patient encounters annually, the System drives quality and
value by integrating primary care – delivered in a variety of easily
accessible settings – with world-class specialty services. In 2015,
Carolinas HealthCare System provided more than $1.6 billion in
community benefit, which includes the combined value of patient
financial assistance, medical education, research, preventive health
initiatives, and community outreach to address common public health
issues such as diabetes and childhood obesity.