Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital announces new president, restructuring
Bill James, former president will step down. Chad Brown will assume a new role as president of South and West areas. (Contributed Photos}
LEXINGTON, N.C. – Nov. 17, 2023 – As part of a new, streamlined leadership model being implemented across some of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s community hospitals, Chad Brown, president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Davie Medical Center and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center, will assume a new role as president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s South and West areas, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
As part of the restructuring, Bill James will step down as president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center.
James has a long legacy of excellence at community hospitals in North Carolina and Virginia, and since becoming president of Lexington Medical Center in 2014, he has led the growth of inpatient and outpatient cancer services, colorectal surgery, gynecologic oncology surgery, joint replacements, orthopaedics and urology. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the hospital’s state-of-the-art surgical facility expansion which opened in 2019.
He has been a tireless champion for quality and safety and has also increased the number of learners at Lexington Medical Center, from both Wake Forest University School of Medicine and community partners.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bill for his strong leadership and significant contributions to Lexington Medical Center, the Davidson County community and our health system over the past decade and we congratulate Chad on his new role and expanded responsibilities,” said Dr. David Zaas, president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. “This new leadership structure will help refine our operating model by streamlining executive roles and help us better align our service lines in strategy, growth, quality, safety and experience.”
Brown, who holds a doctorate in public health, will have executive oversight of both Lexington and Wilkes medical centers. Davie Medical Center will be managed by onsite leadership, and leaders at Lexington and Wilkes medical centers will support Brown in the day-to-day operations of each hospital.
Brown became president of Davie Medical Center in 2014. Under his leadership, Davie Medical Center has experienced tremendous growth and has become a model for patient- and family-centered care. In 2019, Brown’s role expanded and he also became president of Wilkes Medical Center where he has grown inpatient and outpatient services and increased partnerships throughout the Wilkes County community.
“Lexington Medical Center, like each of our hospitals, is tightly woven into the fabric of the community and as we continue to grow, we are committed to protecting each hospital’s unique culture while ensuring our patients receive the safest, highest quality care and best patient- and family-centered experience possible,” Zaas said.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist continues to invest in Lexington Medical Center and at all of its hospitals and areas across the health system to allow more patients to receive a higher level of care while remaining conveniently closer to home and the support of loved ones.
