Woman's Hospital CEO Dr. Barbara Griffith will leave the organization in the fall to become the president of Duke Health System's Duke Raleigh Hospital in North Carolina.
Before joining Woman's Hospital in 2019 and guiding the 165-bed hospital through the pandemic, Griffith worked for nearly two decades with Duke Health System, spending seven years as chief medical officer and chief of business operations. Griffith succeeded Teri Fontenot who had served as CEO since 1996.
"While still new to our community, and during a pandemic, Barbara's strong leadership led us through an unprecedented crisis and positive year-end financial results, when most of healthcare experienced significant losses," said Ben Marmande, board chairman of Woman's Hospital Board of Directors, in a statement. "With integrity, she has weathered governance challenges and changes in physician alignment."
Griffith will remain with Woman's Hospital until September 2021, when interim CEO Paul Cleckner will fully step into her role, Marmande said in a statement.
Cleckner, who joined Woman's Hospital as chief transformation officer in April 2021, has previously worked as president and COO at Medical Reimbursements of America, vice president of operations for Lifepoint Health and COO of Saint Thomas Health.
Until she leaves, Marmande said Griffith will continue her work as CEO in formulating strategic next steps for the healthcare entity.
