Atrium Health Navicent Peach CEO Laura Gentry has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 67 Critical Access Hospital CEOs to Know in 2023 list.

The leaders recognized in this list have jumpstarted growth, developed partnerships and navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for their organizations. They’re innovators who have found ways to improve safety, quality, outcomes, service lines, recruitment, retention and more, while expanding access to health care.

Gentry also was recognized on Becker’s Hospital Review’s 80 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know in 2023 list and 107 Community Hospital CEOs to Know in 2023 list.

“Strong leaders like Laura are essential to Atrium Health Navicent’s commitment to expand access to high quality health care for rural Georgians,” said Atrium Health Navicent President Delvecchio Finley. “Thanks to Becker’s Hospital Review for recognizing the efforts of Laura and her team at Atrium Health Navicent Peach to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing for ALL.”

Laura Gentry joined Atrium Health Navicent in 2015 as chief nursing officer at Atrium Health Navicent Peach and became chief executive officer of the facility in March 2018. Atrium Health Navicent Peach has 25 private rooms, 14 emergency rooms, and two trauma rooms. It provides services to Peach County and its surrounding rural communities.

Gentry oversees all aspects of the hospital, including managing the hospital budget, fostering employee engagement, meeting quality and patient satisfaction outcomes, handling contract negotiations and ensuring compliance with hospital certifications and accreditations. She has been influential in building community relationships and supporting community outreach programs, including helping to implement a school-based virtual health partnership with Peach County schools. Gentry also is responsible for the Primary Care Fort Valley Rural Health Clinic.

Under Gentry’s leadership, the hospital has expanded outpatient lab and radiology services, won a quality and patient safety award from the Partnership for Health and Accountability in 2019, and has seen growth in patient visits. In addition, Gentry serves as a regional trustee for the Georgia Hospital Association’s Center for Rural Health and on the executive committee of the Board of Trustees of Central Georgia Technical College Foundation. She began her career in health care as a registered nurse.

Becker’s Hospital review is a source of news and information for health care decision-makers. In addition to a print magazine, Becker’s Hospital Review publishes an e-newsletter with 1 million subscribers and has 3.5 million monthly visitors on its website.