The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals (GACH) honored Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health, as its 2014 CEO of the Year.

Every year, the GACH recognizes a CEO who has helped push their institution to be successful, while also continuing efforts to provide world class care and community benefit. The CEO of the Year honor is given to the hospital leader who uses skill and constructive imagination to see how much can be given for a dollar, instead of how little.

“Hospital leaders are facing more challenges than ever before and we see some of the greatest innovation and leadership each year when we select our CEO to honor,” said GACH President Monty Veazey.  “Dr. Saunders has taken a strong hospital and made its future even more compelling. She exemplifies dedication and excellence and that is why the Alliance is proud to recognize her as our 2014 CEO of the Year.”

This year, the Alliance honored Dr. Saunders for her leadership as President and CEO of Navicent Health, previously named Central Georgia Health System. Dr. Saunders demonstrates unwavering passion while serving the unique needs of rural communities, transforming services and access points for care and improving the scale, scope and skills of hospital facilities and staff. She is also the co-founder of Stratus Healthcare, a collaborative partnership of 29 hospitals in central and south Georgia, including 18 rural hospitals.

Dr. Saunders’ dedication has not gone unnoticed. She is an active member of the Governor’s Georgia Cancer Coalition, a Distinguished Faculty at Emory University, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, board member of the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and was named one of Georgia’s “Most Powerful and Influential Women” in 2013.