TIFTON – William T. Richardson will retire as president/CEO of Tift Regional Health System in January 2018 and Christopher K. Dorman will be the new CEO, according to a press release from Tift County Hospital Authority.

“For the past 30 years, Bill Richardson led Tift Regional with integrity and courage,” said Jimmy Allen, chairman of the Hospital Authority of Tift County, in the release. “Thanks to his vision and guidance, TRHS nearly quadrupled in size–going from Tift General Hospital, a single community hospital, to Tift Regional Health System, a true network of care serving 12 counties in south central Georgia. He will be missed immensely.”

Dorman, who has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2013, was mentored by Richardson to become the new President/CEO for TRHS.

“Four years ago, we initiated an extensive and competitive national search for a COO to join the administrative staff and eventually become president/CEO once Bill retired,” said Allen. “Chris is a talented, forward-thinking chief executive who shares our dedication to quality, compassionate care.”

Dorman said he is excited about his new leadership role with Tift Regional Health System.

“I look forward to advancing the health care delivery model established by Bill Richardson,” Dorman said. “I have learned a lot from him and appreciate his support and encouragement. I would also like to thank the members of the Hospital Authority for putting their faith in our executive team moving forward. TRHS is an outstanding organization, and I am excited about our future.”

Richardson said that his time with TRHS has been an amazing journey.

“I can’t understate the appreciation I have for our board members, providers, nurses, therapists, technicians, non-clinical staff and auxiliary members,” Richardson said. “I thank all of them for their skills, dedication, and support. Having new facilities and advanced technology is important for success, but Tift Regional is the region’s provider of choice because of its people. You cannot have engagement unless you have people that are passionate and want to deliver on it. You cannot have success without collaboration.”

Richardson said he would not have had such a long and successful tenure without the support of his family.

“My wife, Debbie, and our three children and five grandchildren are what inspire me every day,” he said.

Richardson joined TRHS in 1988 as administrator of Tift General Hospital. In 2001, Tift General Hospital became Tift Regional Medical Center and adopted the umbrella name Tift Regional Health System in 2013. In addition to Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC), the flagship hospital located in Tifton, TRHS today consists of the TRMC West Campus in Tifton as well as Cook Medical Center and Cook Senior Living Center in Adel.

In addition, TRHS has three surgery centers and 24 hospital-owned physician practices.

“Thanks to Bill’s efforts, Tift Regional was able to bring crucial specialty services such as oncology, cardiovascular care, dialysis and more to our community,” said Allen.

In addition to the service line growth, Richardson led the way for TRHS to form Care Alliance, an accountable care organization. He was also instrumental in the founding of Stratus Healthcare, the Southeast’s largest hospital collaboration of hospitals and clinically-integrated network.

“In addition to being a health care leader, Tift Regional is an economic engine for the community, employing over 2,000 employees at TRMC,” said Allen. “This is combined with Cook Medical Center’s 227 staff members. TRHS has an economic impact of more than $554 million.”

Before joining TRHS in 1988, Richardson served as an assistant administrator at West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange and later as administrator at Bulloch Memorial Hospital in Statesboro. He earned his master’s degree in hospital and health administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and his undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

Richardson has been actively involved with numerous professional organizations throughout his career. He is past chairman of the Georgia Hospital Association, the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals and Vizient MidSouth.

Before assuming the president/CEO role, Dorman served as Tift Regional’s COO, providing administrative oversight of the hospital system’s core services, including nursing, surgery and diagnostic services. He also oversaw facility management, human resources and process improvement.

Prior to joining TRHS, Dorman served as an administrator in a CEO development program at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Virginia, a 300-bed acute care hospital. He started his career in healthcare as a practice manager at two physician practices and then joined Southside Regional Medical Center as director of the hospital’s wound healing and hyperbaric department, which led to the administrator role.

Dorman holds a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

“I will miss the everyday interaction with my Tift Regional colleagues, but I am confident that Chris will work effectively with the board to keep this great health care organization on a steady, progressive path,” said Richardson.