Hello, I’m
Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders
Saunders has been president and CEO of Navicent since 2012, when Macon’s largest hospital was still called Medical Center of Central Georgia.
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Mindoro, Philippines
Navicent Health president CEO of the Year
The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals has named Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, president and CEO of Navicent Health, as its 2014 CEO of the Year.
The Alliance recognizes a CEO annually that it believes has helped push their institution to be successful, while also continuing efforts to provide world class care and community benefit, according to a news release.
“Hospital leaders are facing more challenges than ever before and we see some of the greatest innovation and leadership each year when we select our CEO to honor,” Alliance President Monty Veazey stated in the news release.
“Dr. Saunders has taken a strong hospital and made its future even more compelling. She exemplifies dedication and excellence and that is why the Alliance is proud to recognize her as our 2014 CEO of the Year.”
Saunders, CEO of Navicent Health, previously named Central Georgia Health System, is alsoco-founder of Stratus Healthcare, a collaborative partnership of 29 hospitals in central and south Georgia, including 18 rural hospitals.
The Alliance said she demonstrates unwavering passion while serving the unique needs of rural communities.
Saunders was also named one of Georgia’s “Most Powerful and Influential Women” in 2013.
The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals works with not-for-profit hospitals and Georgia’s health care consumers. It was founded in 1983 and says it’s dedicated to helping hospitals fulfill their primary mission of serving their communities.
Leadership
Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, FACHE, is the President and CEO of Navicent Health, the second-largest hospital in Georgia and a tertiary regional teaching medical center.
Dr. Saunders has more than 45 years of hospital administrative and clinical experience, and prior to her current role, served as the President and COO of Virtua Health, the largest health system in southern New Jersey.
Dr. Saunders was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2019’s Top 25 Women Leaders in the U.S. and was twice named one of the “Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market” in the U.S. by CEO Corporation.
Dr. Saunders serves on the boards of the Georgia Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association, where she is the past chair for the Institute for Diversity.
Dr. Saunders completed her Doctorate in Healthcare Administration at the Medical University of South Carolina, earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Emory University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University.