JACKSON, Miss. – David Putt, an experienced hospital executive who has run health-care organizations large and small, has been appointed chief executive officer of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s community hospitals in Grenada and Lexington. The appointments take effect March 1 and April 1, respectively.
Formerly a health network relationships advisor to UMMC’s vice chancellor for health affairs, Putt has been serving as interim CEO of the former Grenada Lake Medical Center since UMMC began managing the facility in September 2013. UMMC entered a long-term lease to operate the hospital – renamed UMMC Grenada – earlier this month.
UMMC has owned Holmes County Hospital and Clinics in Lexington since 2000.
Putt has a long history in health-care management, including 11 years – three as CEO – in senior leadership positions with UMMC’s adult hospitals in Jackson. During his 19 years with UMMC, Putt also served as CEO of the hospital and clinics in Lexington.
“David Putt knows what it takes to run a successful hospital,” said UMMC Vice Chancellor James E. Keeton. “Everywhere he’s been, he’s earned the loyalty of employees and the confidence of the medical staff. He’s the right person at the right time to lead these two hospitals that are so vital to their communities.”
Having one CEO for both hospitals is an approach that fits these two hospitals and an executive with Putt’s background, said Kevin S. Cook, who has overall responsibility for all of UMMC’s adult health services.
“We’re able to make this move because both hospitals have veteran staff in place and David has so much management experience to draw on,” Cook said. “It also reflects the fact that these hospitals are part of a larger network and have access to those system resources.”
Cook also expressed appreciation to Phillip Grady, who has served as administrator of the Lexington Hospital with additional duties at UMMC. Grady will now be full-time in Jackson as administrator of support services.
Putt is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and veteran of the U.S. Navy.
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