Chris A. Lumsden, FACHE, 60, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Hospital of Surry County, effective July 23, 2018. Lumsden served previously as Chief Executive Officer of Halifax Regional Health System and then President and Administrator of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston, Virginia.
“We are pleased to welcome Chris to the Northern Hospital family,” said Bill Woltz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Northern Hospital, in announcing the appointment. “As a seasoned and highly regarded healthcare executive, Chris brings the necessary level of demonstrated experience, knowledge, and vision to his new role to ensure that Northern Hospital maintains its leadership position as a premiere provider of healthcare services and programs.”
“I am delighted to join the Northern Hospital team and look forward to working with the Board, medical staff, Hospital employees, and volunteers as we continue to provide high-quality care to patients while strengthening our ability to guide, embrace, and adapt appropriately to the future of medicine. My wife and I are very impressed with the reputation of the Hospital and the attractiveness of the community,” said Lumsden.
During his 35-year career in healthcare administration, Lumsden championed the successful transformation and robust growth of Halifax Regional into an award-winning integrated delivery system — which would eventually merge, in 2013, with the Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare. For the past two years, Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital was selected as a “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital”.
Under Lumsden’s results-oriented leadership style, significant growth was achieved in the development of key clinical programs and service lines; quality indices were improved and maintained; a best-practice program was developed for the recruitment and retention of highly qualified primary-care and specialty physicians; patient-satisfaction scores were among the best in the region and state; employee-engagement was enhanced; and a solid financial foundation was established and maintained.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Lumsden graduated with honors from Bridgewater College, with a double major in Business Administration and Economics. In 1983, he earned his Master’s Degree with honors in Health Services Administration from George Washington University.
A Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE), Lumsden is also a licensed Nursing Home Administrator. He is the past Board Chairman of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA), and, in 2006, received that organization’s highest honor — its Distinguished Service Award.
A lifelong supporter of education, Lumsden has held a number of related leadership positions in the field of higher education, including past Board Chair of the State Board for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and founding Board Chair of the Halifax Educational Foundation and Southern Virginia Higher Educational Center.
Lumsden has also served as the immediate past Board Chair of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; and, in 2013, was honored as the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Person of the Year” Award.
Chris Lumsden and his wife, Linda, will be relocating to the Mount Airy region within the next few months. They have two children: daughter, Jessica, who resides with her husband in Roanoke, Virginia; and son, Nick, who resides with his wife in Escondido, California.
“At this time, we thank Robin Hodgin for her superb interim leadership while a nationwide search was underway for our next President and CEO,” said Bill Woltz, Chairman of Northern Hospital’s Board of Trustees.
“Moving forward, we are confident that Chris Lumsden’s expertise in healthcare administration, coupled with his allied interests in education and community/economic development, will fuel his laser-like focus on supporting and enhancing Northern Hospital’s critical role in providing access to key clinical services and programs that improve the health and well-being of residents of Mount Airy and its surrounding communities,” he added.
