Palmyra announces new CEO

Feb 5, 2009

Palmyra Medical Center announced today that William Mark Rader has been selected Chief Executive Officer at Palmyra Medical Center effective March 9, 2009.  Rader comes to Palmyra from another HCA facility, Pulaski Community Hospital in Pulaski, Va.  He has been CEO of that facility since 2005.

Michael Joyce, Division President for the HCA North Florida Division, views this as a tremendous opportunity for both Palmyra and Rader.  “On behalf of our great team at Palmyra we are very excited that Mark has accepted the CEO position,” said Joyce.  “He brings us nearly 20 years of strong healthcare background and knowledge.  In addition we believe he has a keen awareness of the competitive marketplace in Albany and he is prepared to continue the growth strategy in place there.”

Rader is equally optimistic and cannot wait to get started as CEO at Palmyra.  “When I met with members of the Board of Trustees, the medical staff and the Palmyra team, I knew this was a solid organization with a great history of providing outstanding healthcare,” Rader said.  “My challenge will be simple; make sure that when the people of Albany think of healthcare, they think of Palmyra Medical Center.”

Rader said his focus as a leader is to assure that every patient receives only the highest level of quality care, and to work with the team to do everything possible to exceed patients’ expectations.  (His current hospital ranks in the top 10 percent of facilities nationwide with patient quality indicators, and it ranks as one of the “Top 5 Best Places to Work” in the Blue Ridge region.)

As he prepares to step into his new role at Palmyra Rader said that he plans on spending a great amount of time meeting with physicians, members of the Board, employees and community leaders to identify the best direction for Palmyra going forward.

“There are incredible opportunities for Palmyra including the addition of Obstetrical Services and the new Long-Term Acute Care facility,” Rader said.  “In reality all hospitals have similar technology and equipment, but it is the compassionate care delivered by our team that makes a patient and their family want to come back to us in the future.” 

Rader holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Duke University and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Prior to his current position he was Chief Operating Officer at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, Va.  He willmove to the Albany area with his wife, Amy, and their daughter,  Helen Renee.

“We see this move to Albany as a long-term opportunity and look forward to becoming very involved in a full range of community and church activities,” Rader said.  They are members of the United Methodist Church.