WakeMed taps Gintzig as president, CEO

WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh, N.C., named Donald Gintzig as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.

Gintzig, 56, has served as WakeMed's interim chief since last October. He took over for Bill Atkinson, who resigned in September after the not-for-profit WakeMed entered a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve Medicare overbilling charges. At the time, officials at the $1 billion system did not say whether Atkinson's departure was related to the Medicare case, which centered around criminal allegations for cardiovascular care.

Gintzig, a retired Navy rear admiral, has held several leadership roles with the military, including deputy commander and COO of Navy Medicine East and Navy Medicine West. He has been involved in the private sector as CEO of Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, among others.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen to lead this extraordinary organization, which is devoted to improving the health and well-being of our community while building upon the legacy of those preceding me,” Gintzig said in a statement. “Our patients and their families dignify us by choosing us at times when they are most vulnerable, and WakeMed is blessed to have an exceptionally talented team of physicians, volunteers, caregivers and support associates who embody our mission every day.”

WakeMed's board ultimately chose to go with Gintzig after initiating a nationwide search, which included an unnamed number of candidates.

Follow Bob Herman on Twitter: @MHbherman

Have news to share about executive comings, goings or promotions? E-mail News Editor John N. Frank at [email protected].