Navicent Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Patrice Walker, M.D. to the role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for The Medical Center, Navicent Health (MCNH). Dr. Walker has served MCNH as Deputy Chief Medical Officer since November 5, 2018.
 
“Dr. Walker has clearly demonstrated her leadership and abilities in both clinical and quality operations, cultivating relationships with our medical staff and exhibiting true servant leadership. As the first female and the first African-American to serve in the role of Deputy CMO and now CMO, Dr. Walker has and will continue to bring a new perspective that affects positive change throughout the organization. The Medical Center will look to Dr. Walker, in her new role as CMO, to provide medical staff leadership, strategic and operational planning and most importantly, continued support of our high quality healthcare delivery system in partnership with her physician peers,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health.
 
A native of Monroe County, Dr. Walker graduated from Mary Persons High School before attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she earned a degree in applied biology. She returned to central Georgia to earn her medical degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) and completed her residency training at The Medical Center of Central Georgia, now known as The Medical Center, Navicent Health. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), Dr. Walker has been an active member of the medical staff, where she has served on numerous committees and was medical director of the OBGYN staff for the 2016-2018 term.
 
Having served as an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MUSM, Dr. Walker is known for promoting high standards of residency education. She is a three-time recipient of the National Faculty Award presented by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Walker has also served as the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at MUSM. She was recognized as one of Georgia Trend’s 2018 “40 Under 40” honorees not only for her commitment to patient care, but also for training the next generation of physicians with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.