On Thursday, November 2 at a small ceremony at Navicent Health Baldwin in Milledgeville, Ga., Navicent Health named Darren Pearce Chief Executive Officer of the Milledgeville hospital. Pearce has served as interim CEO of NHB since Navicent Health purchased the hospital, then known as Oconee Regional Medical Center, on October 1, 2017.
 
“With the purchase of Oconee Regional Medical Center, now known as Navicent Health Baldwin, we began a national search for a CEO. As we went through this process, it was plain to see the person for the job was right here among us. Darren has a heart for rural healthcare and a proven track record for establishing rural and critical access hospitals. We are thrilled that he has accepted the position of CEO for Navicent Health Baldwin and look forward to bright days for this hospital under his leadership,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health.
 
Pearce, who also serves as Senior Vice President of Rural Health Network, Navicent Health, has been instrumental in building and strengthening other rural and critical access hospitals within the Navicent Health system, including Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health and Monroe County Hospital, Navicent Health Partner. He will continue to oversee operations of those two hospitals, each now under the daily management of Chief Administrative Officers.
 
“There is a lot of potential for Navicent Health Baldwin, room for growth and expanded services that will benefit Baldwin County as well as the surrounding region. We have great plans for this hospital that include the expansion of services and the recruitment of new physicians to the area,” said Pearce.
 
A native of Florida, Pearce is a U.S. Navy veteran. After earning his BSN and MBA from Valdosta State Univeristy (Valdosta, Ga.), Pearce began his career as a surgical/neurological intensive care nurse. Pearce was named Executive Director of Rehabilitation Hospital, Navicent Health in 2013. In 2015, he was named CAO of Medical Center of Peach County, Navicent Health. In 2016, he was promoted to Vice President of Ambulatory Services for Navicent Health, and also named interim CAO of Monroe County Hospital. This year, he was named Senior Vice President of Rural Health Network, Navicent Health. He also serves on Georgia Hospital Association’s Center for Rural Health Board of Trustees.
 
Navicent Health purchased the bankrupt Oconee Regional Medical Center in October of this year, winning a bid for the struggling Milledgeville hospital. Since assuming leadership of the hospital – now known as Navicent Health Baldwin – on October 2, 2017, leaders including Peaerce have worked with members of the community to establish and implement a plan to create a viable source of care for the residents of Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Putnam, Washington and Wilkerson Counties.