MED MOVES: WVU Health System names first chief nursing executive, and more

Melanie Heuston has been named the first chief nursing executive of the West Virginia University Health System.

Melanie Heuston

Heuston will start in her new role on Monday, Aug. 22.

Previously, Heuston served as the senior nursing executive at Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Maryland. In her time at Meritus, the organization attained the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet credential in April 2019, the organization’s highest honor.

Prior to Meritus, Heuston held several senior leadership positions at UPMC. She also served as vice president of clinical education, training, and workforce development at the Institute for Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh.

Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia Health System, said in a news release that Heuston will be a “critical team member as we continue to develop innovative ways to sustain and grow our nursing workforce.”

Heuston said in a statement that she is looking forward to join “such a dynamic organization that is highly committed to its patients and the nursing profession.”

“I look forward to being the voice of nursing across the Health System,” she said.

Patricia Carroll

Hackensack Meridian Health appoints president of two hospitals

Patricia Carroll has been named the president of two hospitals in the Hackensack Meridian Health system: Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center.

Carroll served as chief operating officer of Palisades Medical Center and recently as interim president, chief hospital executive.

She has held other healthcare leadership roles, including executive director for the Children’s Hospital of NJ at Newark Beth Israel; executive director at Irvington General;  senior vice president for operations at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and chief operating officer of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick.

“I’m honored to join two highly-respected hospitals and continue the mission of caring for our communities,” Carroll said in a statement

Todd Way, president of Hackensack Meridian’s central region, called Carroll “a truly dynamic leader.”

“I look forward to having Pat continue to advance the operational performance of both Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center, while enhancing patient care in our communities,” Way said in a statement.

Craig Richardville

Intermountain Healthcare names chief digital officer

Craig Richardville has been named the chief digital and information officer and senior vice president for Intermountain Healthcare.

Richardville previously served as senior vice president and chief information and digital officer at SCL Health. Earlier this year, Intermountain and SCL Health completed the merger of the two systems, and Richardville will serve as chief digital officer of the combined systems.

Before joining SCL Health, Richardville served as senior vice president and chief information and analytics officer at Atrium Health for more than 20 years.

Richardville has earned prestigious awards in his career, including the 2021 National CIO of the Year Healthcare ORBIE Award. He was named the 2020 Colorado CIO of the Year and the Carolinas CIO of the Year in 2017.

Scott Christensen

Mississippi hospital hires new CEO

Scott Christensen has been named the new chief executive officer of the King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven, Miss.

Christensen has served as CEO of the Delta Health System since 2014. Under his leadership, the system has grown to encompass four hospitals and a host of outpatient facilities.

He is succeeding Alvin Hoover, the outgoing CEO of King’s Daughters, who is retiring in September 2022.

Christensen will begin serving as CEO in mid-August, the medical center said.

“The quality of a healthcare setting is driven by its people, and the people of KDMC embody so well the Christian mission of this organization,” Christensen said in a statement. “I feel blessed to have been invited to join this team, and I am excited about the good things we can accomplish together.”