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Isley has served as CEO for Granville Health System in Oxford, NC, since 2006, and has held a variety of roles in his 30-year health care career.


Media Contact: Dorsey Tobias,  dltobias@nhcs.org252-962-8900

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina – Nash UNC Health Care’s Board of Commissioners has named L. Lee Isley, PhD, FACHE, as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer (CEO).  Isley has served as CEO for Granville Health System in Oxford, NC, since 2006, and has held a variety of roles in his 30-year health care career.

“Lee brings a wealth of experience in providing quality health care in rural communities,” said James M. Lilley, chair of the Nash UNC Health Care Board of Commissioners.  “We reviewed a superior slate of candidates from all over the country, and are thrilled to have found an exceptional leader who understands health care in North Carolina.”

A national CEO search began in July following the retirement of former CEO Larry Chewning.  Ian B. Buchanan, MD, MPH, Chief Research Officer for UNC Health Care System and Senior Vice President of Operations at UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill, has served as interim CEO at Nash UNC Health Care since September 2017.

“With the help of a highly committed board, Ian has led Nash through a significant period of change in the last five months, refocusing the organization on providing patient-centered, high quality care while also changing operations in order to achieve financial stability through challenging times in the industry,” said Chris Ellington, president of UNC Health Care Network Hospitals.  “Coming in on this backdrop, Lee is well poised to continue improvements to operations and the patient experience.”

Isley, a native of Burlington, NC, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Care Management from Western Carolina University, Masters of Business Administration from Elon University, and Doctorate of Philosophy in Community Health / Public Health from The University of Tennessee.  He and his wife Melissa have four children.

“I am looking forward to working with the board, medical staff and hospital staff in continuing the progress made at Nash over the last several months,” said Isley.  “My family and I are excited to become a part of the community.”


About Nash UNC Health Care

Nash UNC Health Care is a non-profit hospital authority comprised of five licensed hospitals totaling 395 beds: Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, Coastal Plain Hospital, the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, and Community Hospital of Rocky Mount. Serving Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson and Johnston counties, and surrounding areas, its mission is to provide superior quality health care services and to help improve the health of the community in a caring, efficient and financially sound manner. Nash UNC Health Care is a managed affiliate of UNC Health Care, an integrated health care system comprised of UNC Hospitals and its provider network, UNC Faculty Physicians, UNC Physicians Network, the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine and nine other hospitals and hospital systems across the state.