Sentara names new president, CEO and COO

Beth Walsh | | Health Exec | Management

Howard P. Kern is the new president and CEO of Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare as of March 4.

Kern succeeds David L. Bernd, who retired after 21 years as CEO.

Sentara is a nonprofit system with 12 hospitals, four medical groups with more than 900 providers throughout Virginia and North Carolina, a health plan with more than 450,000 members, and life care and home care services.

Kern has identified three key areas of focus which will guide his tenure as CEO: clinical performance improvement, innovation and growth and customer centricity, according to a release.

Michael V. Gentry, current senior corporate vice president of Sentara, was appointed COO in January.

 

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

Related Content

Q&A: Proposed changes to Social Security Act would recognize pharmacists as healthcare providers
FDA issues Class I recall on counterfeit infusion pump batteries
FDA issues alert on PCNL sheath safety after patient death
Bipartisan bills in Congress would force insurance companies, PBMs to sell pharmacies
Anthem BCBS reverses course on anesthesia time limits
FDA issues Class I recall on insulin syringes due to risk of death

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

AI in Healthcare
From Capitol Hill to a hospital near you? 5 federal recommendations for healthcare AI policy

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Cardiovascular Business
Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.