VALDOSTA, Ga – South Georgia Medical has named Ronald E. Dean as the finalist for their CEO position.

On August 13, SGMC released the name of their new CEO. Ronald E. Dean, MBA, FACHE. Dean will be taking the place of Bill Forbes, who has only been CEO of South Georgia Medical Center since January of this year.

Dean is said to have “a diverse background and proven track record,” by chairman of the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, Sam Allen. Allen added that the Authority feels Dean will take SGMC to the next level.

Dean’s career spans over a length of 36 years, 33 of which were spent at Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) with his most recent position being Vice President of operations.

After SAMC, Dean served as CEO of Troy Regional Hospital where he was credited for the improvement of the hospital’s overall performance by his turn-around strategy.