After conducting a nationwide executive search led by healthcare leadership solutions firm B. E. Smith, Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Douglas, Ga., has hired Vicki Lewis as chief executive officer. A seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, Lewis will assume her new duties at CRMC on May 12. She replaces current president and CEO George L. Heck III who announced his resignation in July.

“Vicki brings a proven track record in healthcare management, significant leadership experience in clinical operations and an impressive list of accomplishments,” said Matt Greer, chairman of CRMC’s board of directors. “We are confident Vicki will provide excellent leadership and prepare CRMC for the future healthcare environment.”

Formerly, Lewis served as president at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, Wis., and Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington in Burlington, Wis. In this role, she provided leadership to the two acute care hospitals with a focus on improving patient experience and building a strong relationship with the community. Lewis previously served as vice president/chief nursing officer at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay, Wis. She also held numerous senior leadership roles at Marion General Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital, both part of the OhioHealth system.

“Coffee Regional Medical Center was seeking an experienced senior healthcare executive to provide strategic leadership and continue to strengthen the organization’s relationship with the community,” said Mark Madden, senior vice president of executive search for B. E. Smith, the healthcare executive search firm who conducted the nationwide CEO search for CRMC. “Vicki’s healthcare experience and leadership style were a perfect fit.”

Lewis earned Master of Science degrees in Nursing and Administration from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Ohio University Athens. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

About Coffee Regional Medical Center:
Coffee Regional Medical Center is an 88-bed hospital in Douglas, Ga., and one of the leading not-for-profit healthcare providers in the state. It has served the healthcare needs of Coffee County since 1953, and is an integral part of the community and a major contributor to the economic health of Douglas, Ga. In addition to providing emergency care, CRMC offers a wide range of services from OB/GYN and cardiology to pediatrics and orthopedics. To learn more, visit www.coffeeregional.org.

About B. E. Smith: 
Founded in 1978, B. E. Smith is a full-service healthcare executive search firm and a top-ranked provider of senior-level leadership services including Interim Leadership, Executive Search and Management Consulting. Veteran healthcare recruiters and regional healthcare experts partner with each client to create customized solutions. B. E. Smith’s proven methodology has resulted in the recent placement of more than 900 leaders into healthcare organizations worldwide. The firm utilizes a comprehensive sourcing strategy incorporating the latest marketing techniques, association partnerships, social networking and one of the largest databases of skilled senior-level healthcare executives in the industry to deliver immediate results in today’s complex healthcare environment. For more information, visit BESmith.com or call 855-254-8261.