Sentara names new president, CEO and COO
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.