Centra, Central Virginia's Medical Leader

W. Michael Bryant began his role as president and CEO of Centra on Monday. He succeeds George W. Dawson, who is retiring after nearly three decades at the helm of the national award-winning healthcare system headquartered in Lynchburg.

“Centra is an outstanding nationally recognized health system, and it is indeed a privilege to become part of a high performing team consisting of board members, physicians, leadership and employees,” said Bryant. “I am impressed and overwhelmed by the strength and the enthusiasm of the physicians as well as their commitment to excellence. I am honored to be joining the Centra family and the central Virginia community.”

Bryant had been president and CEO of Methodist Health Services Corporation, which includes Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, a 329-bed nonprofit, regional integrated tertiary medical center located in Peoria, Ill. Bryant had led Methodist Health Services Corporation since 1999, and today it is nationally recognized for outstanding quality and service. Bryant’s appointment was unanimously approved by the Centra Board of Directors earlier this summer after a six-month national search. The board engaged an executive search firm to help identify top candidates across the country.

“The search committee of our board has worked long and hard to find someone who understands and appreciates the quality and service values of Centra and who has the vision and desire to enhance our current levels of care and lead us through the uncertain future facing healthcare organizations in this country,” said Kenneth S. White, Centra board chairman. “The track record and experience of Michael Bryant clearly show that he is the person to lead Centra forward.

“Michael will help us continue to provide our region with nationally ranked, top quality healthcare. We will build on the foundation George developed over nearly 30 years. As a board, we believe Michael will help us stay completely focused on continuing our strategy to remain a locally governed, nonprofit integrated healthcare system providing a comprehensive range of healthcare services for our region.”

Methodist has earned the State of Illinois’ highest quality award, the Lincoln Award for Achievement of Excellence, patterned after the national Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. Methodist was named among the Best Places to Work For in Illinois and has seven disease-specific certifications from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Prior to becoming president and CEO of Methodist, Bryant spent 14 years with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, including 10 years as president and CEO. He is known for his major focus on communication with key audiences, from employees and physicians to patients and the community at large, White said. “The organizational values and quality that he has helped instill in his hospitals are also those that we believe are paramount for Centra. And that was one of the major influences in our selection.”

Bryant is co-founder and board member of a number of economic-related organizations, including Peoria NEXT, a consortium of research-based institutions, and the CEO Roundtable.

Bryant earned his master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1985, became a Certified Public Accountant in 1978 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting from Indiana University that he received in 1978.

In joining Centra, Bryant now oversees a healthcare system that has had tremendous growth in its regional service area, earned dozens of national awards for quality, service, safety and patient satisfaction, and is known for its efficiency and financial stability.

During his nearly three decades, Dawson led the transformation of Centra from three community hospitals to a major national healthcare leader. Today, nonprofit Centra has 6,000 employees, a medical staff of nearly 500, Lynchburg General, Virginia Baptist and Southside Community hospitals, health and rehabilitation centers, a cancer center and physician practices serving an area from Bedford to Farmville and from Nelson County to Danville. In addition, Centra’s services include residential outpatient mental health facilities, home health and hospice programs, mammography centers, a sleep disorders center and a center for wound care and hyperbaric medicine.

White said, “Naming George’s successor has been difficult. Not only has his visionary leadership helped earn Centra a national reputation for quality, but he also has ensured Centra’s focus on improving the health for all people in our region. George will leave a lasting legacy of personal achievement for the betterment of our community.”

For more information, please contact Susan Brandt, Centra manager, communications/marketing and media relations, 434.200.4731.