(Columbia, South Carolina – August 13, 2019) – Providence Health announced today that Terry Gunn has been named market chief executive officer (CEO) of Providence Health and KershawHealth, effective immediately. Both facilities are part of LifePoint Health and are located in Columbia, South Carolina, and Camden, South Carolina, respectively. Gunn has been serving in an interim leadership role at Providence Health since April after replacing former interim leader Steve Selzer.
In his new role, Gunn will be responsible for identifying growth opportunities for the market as a whole; more effectively leveraging the synergies of both hospitals; and helping to strengthen the delivery of healthcare throughout the region.
“Terry is an accomplished and mission-driven leader with a strong track record of improving quality care, fostering growth, strengthening culture and driving financial results,” said Jamie Carter, president of LifePoint Health’s Eastern Division, of which Providence Health and KershawHealth are a part. "He clearly understands the vision for both hospitals and their goals for the future, and his knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in each respective market will be essential to their long-term success.”
Gunn will remain located at Providence Health and have operational oversight of both facilities. Sue Shugart, who has been named permanent CEO of KershawHealth, will report directly to him and manage the daily operations of the hospital and its affiliated assets at the local level. Shugart has been serving as interim CEO of KershawHealth since Gunn’s departure from the facility earlier this year.
“Terry has all of the leadership qualities and experience we were looking for in a leader,” said Susie H. VanHuss, PhD, chair of Providence Health’s Board of Trustees. “We look forward to the many ways Terry’s leadership will impact the future of healthcare in this region and are excited to work with him to further advance our mission.”
Gunn brings a wealth of experience to this position, having spent the past 14 years leading various hospitals and health systems in South Carolina. Prior to joining Providence, Terry served as CEO of KershawHealth and also as president of the South Carolina market for RCCH HealthCare Partners prior to its merger with LifePoint Health. This market leadership position included oversight of both KershawHealth and Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. Prior to this role, Terry, who is a savvy business leader and an entrepreneur at heart, founded his own venture capital firm to provide investments for emerging healthcare sector ventures. Earlier in his career, he served in multiple executive leadership roles for a number of hospitals during a 15-year tenure with Hospital Corporation of America.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Terry earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus on marketing from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.
“I am excited to work closely with the talented teams at Providence Health and KershawHealth to continue providing high quality care close to home for those we serve,” said Gunn. "We have so many exciting opportunities ahead of us, and I look forward to the many ways we will continue to advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier in the future.”
About Providence Health
A part of LifePoint Health, Providence Health is the top-rated health system Columbia, SC according to US News and World Report and is the leading provider of cardiovascular and orthopedic services. Providence is composed of two hospitals, sixteen physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, two sleep centers, an imaging and diagnostics lab, a school of cardiac diagnostics and an accredited chest pain center. In total, Providence employs more than 1,800 dedicated staff. Founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Providence is known statewide for outstanding clinical quality and compassionate care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded Providence Health a 4-star rating. The Providence open heart surgery program has consistently ranked in the top 15 percent of open heart programs in the nation. Both orthopedics and cardiac services have received the South Carolina BlueCross BlueShield Blue Distinction Center designation. For more information, visit YourProvidenceHealth.com.
About KershawHealth
Founded in 1913 as Camden Hospital, KershawHealth is a full-service healthcare system proudly serving its community members in Kershaw county and the surrounding areas. A part of LifePoint Health, KershawHealth consists of facilities in Camden, Elgin, Lugoff, Bethune and Kershaw, including a 119-bed Medical Center and a 20-bed Geriatric Psychiatric Unit in Camden, Outpatient Center and Urgent Care in Elgin, Sleep Diagnostics Center, and Physical Therapy ready to care for you. KershawHealth employs more than 700 dedicated staff. For more information, visit www.KershawHealth.org.
About LifePoint Health
LifePoint Health is a leading healthcare company dedicated to Making Communities Healthier®. Through its subsidiaries, it provides quality inpatient, outpatient and post-acute services close to home. LifePoint owns and operates community hospitals, regional health systems, physician practices, outpatient centers and post-acute facilities across the country. It is the sole community healthcare provider in the majority of the non-urban communities it serves. More information about the company can be found at www.LifePointHealth.net.
