12 chief medical officer moves announced in June

Becker’s reported 12 chief medical officer moves since June 1, 2026, spanning hospitals, health systems and medical groups in multiple states.

Baptist Health Richmond in Kentucky named Morgan Blanton, DO, vice president and chief medical officer, with the appointment set to take effect in September. Valley Medical Group, part of Valley Health System in Ridgewood, N.J., selected Puneeta Sharma, MD, as chief medical officer. Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, La., named Taylor Bertschy, DO, to the same role, and Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber in Pennsylvania appointed Craig Fockler, DO, as chief medical officer.

At UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M., CEO Kate Becker plans to retire in December after more than 30 years in healthcare, including the last eight at UNM. During the transition, Steve McLaughlin, MD, chief medical officer of UNM Hospital, was named interim vice president of clinical affairs.

Other appointments included Eric Flynn, BSN, RN, as chief medical officer for Raleigh General Hospital in North Carolina and Patricia Iris, MD, as chief medical officer for Heritage Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Stony Brook Southampton Hospital in New York, part of Stony Brook Medicine, named Richard Stumacher, MD, chief medical officer.

Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach, Fla., appointed Cornelius Powell, MD, MBA, as chief medical officer. Jordan Valley Health in Springfield, Mo., named Clint Strong, MD, chief medical officer, and said he assumed the role June 1 after more than 13 years with the organization.

In Minnesota, Sanford Health Bemidji named Joseph Corser, MD, interim chief medical officer. Lakeview Hospital in Covington, La., appointed Dewitt Bateman, MD, as chief medical officer.

The list reflects moves reported by Becker’s since the start of June. Additional details about the timing or terms of some appointments were not reported in the source.