MUSKOGEE, OK – Anthony R. “Tony” Young has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for EASTAR Health System (EHS) by the hospital’s Board of Trustees and Capella Healthcare, effective June 17. The announcement was made jointly today by Kathy Hewitt, Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, and Robert Wampler, President of the Delta Division of Capella Healthcare, of which EHS is a part.
A seasoned health care executive with more than 30 years of experience, Young moves to Muskogee from Tulsa where he has served in healthcare leadership positions for the past 22 years. For the past year, he has been President and COO of CareATC, a private company that provides employer-sponsored healthcare solutions. Prior to that, he founded SouthCrest Hospital in Tulsa, serving for 13 years as President and CEO. Before that, he served as President and CEO of Doctors Hospital in Tulsa for approximately eight years. During this time, he founded The Specialty Hospital of Tulsa, now known as Select Specialty Hospital.
“Muskogee is indeed fortunate to have such a high quality professional as Mr. Young take the reins of our hospital,” said Hewitt. “He brings invaluable expertise at a critical time during national health care reform. We are excited to welcome Tony, his wife Ashleigh and their family to our community this summer."
“Tony has worked in health care for 32 years and in this market for more than 20 years,” said Wampler. “His experiences have included building a very successful hospital from the ground up. And he has a track record of strong physician, employee and community relationships, which are vital to the success of any hospital. His experience and leadership abilities will enable EASTAR Health System to take patient care and safety to the next level as it continues to grow into an outstanding center of care for people throughout this region.”
Young began his healthcare career in 1982 at the corporate offices of American Medical International (AMI) in Beverly Hills, CA in 1982. He served in a variety of positions for AMI, including Hospital Financial Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Executive Director. After serving in administrative positions at two hospitals in Florida, including as President/CEO of Lake City Medical Center, he moved to Oklahoma in 1991.
“The physicians have been involved in the recruitment process for the new CEO,” said Dr. Dwayne Atwell, President of the Medical Staff. “From our evaluation of Tony Young, we found an experienced, physician-oriented CEO with vast health care experience. Being a resident of Oklahoma and working in the Tulsa area for the past 22 years, we believe he will be the right person to lead our hospital to the high standard we all desire and deserve. We will support him in every way possible.”
“As both a long-time physician in Muskogee and a new Board member at EASTAR, I'm very pleased that Tony Young has accepted the position of CEO,” said Dr. Charles Fullenwider, a neurosurgeon. “I feel Tony will be able to work with the physicians in a cooperative fashion and with the hospital’s staff and Board members to advance our hospital and the medical care in our community. Tony has been an Oklahoma resident for more than 20 years and understands the people and the needs of this area. I look forward to working with him."
Young has been active in the communities where he serves, having been president of the Rotary Club of Bixby and the Will Rogers Rotary Club, as well as on the board for the local American Heart Association chapter and Board Chair for Oklahoma Central Credit Union. Professionally, he is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE). A former member of the Board of Governors for the Federation of American Hospitals, Young has also been involved with the Oklahoma Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association.
Young earned his master’s degree in business administration from Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, following completion of his undergraduate degree in pre-law from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Young has three grown children, a daughter in Washington and two sons, one in Oregon and another in Tulsa. He and his wife Ashleigh will be moving to Muskogee with their son Alexander, who will be entering second grade this year.
“I have been particularly impressed by the commitment of the Board members and physicians I met during the interview process,” said Young. “There seems to be a very committed group of core folks that want to make this hospital a success. I’m honored to be able to continue to serve in Oklahoma and look forward to working with everyone to help EASTAR Health System continue to grow as the regional referral medical center for this part of our state.”
About EASTAR Health System
EASTAR Health System is a comprehensive 320-bed two-campus health system serving the people of Eastern Oklahoma. The organization is fully accredited by The Joint Commission. The EASTAR Main campus (formerly Muskogee Regional Medical Center) was one of the first hospitals established in Oklahoma, and has grown to become one of the state’s largest and most comprehensive facilities. In addition to its nationally accredited cancer program, the hospital is also certified as a Level III Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center. The EASTAR East campus (formerly Muskogee Community Hospital) opened in 2009 as the first hospital in the nation to earn LEED-Gold for New Construction. This recognition of energy efficiency and design allowed this facility an opportunity to improve environmental quality through green planning, design, and construction as well as operations and maintenance practices. Located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, EASTAR Health System is part of the Capella Healthcare family of hospitals. To learn more, visit www.EASTARHealth.com
About Capella Healthcare
Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Capella owns and/or operates 14 acute care and specialty hospital facilities in six states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, investing in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities. For more information, visit the website, http://www.capellahealth.com
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