Executive Management
Charles A. Stark (Chuck), FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Charles A. Stark (Chuck) joined Columbus Regional in February 2012 as President and Chief Executive Officer. He comes to Columbus from Firelands Regional Health System, a three-hospital integrated health care delivery system, in Sandusky, Ohio. He led the system from 2004 until 2012.
Mr. Stark has more than 25 years of experience in hospital and health system leadership. Before joining Firelands Regional Health System in 2004, he spent 13 years with HealthSouth Corp. in progressively responsible leadership roles in Texas, Virginia and Alabama, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President with oversight of the acute care hospital division with facilities in Alabama and Florida. Mr. Stark also previously served for six years with Humana, Inc. in the hospital division, holding senior leadership assignments in Florida and Texas.
He has served in numerous civic and professional leadership roles, including service as a board member for the Ohio Hospital Association and the Ohio Health Information Partnership. He was recognized as a 1993 “Up and Comer” by Modern Healthcare magazine. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Mr. Stark earned his undergraduate degree cum laude in 1983 from Duke University in Durham, N.C., with a major in Psychology. He completed his Master of Health Administration degree at Duke University in 1985.
Scott Hill
Chief Operating Officer
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Scott Hill joined Columbus Regional as Chief Operating Officer in October 2012. Previously, Mr. Hill was the CEO of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, a Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) facility, in Blacksburg, Va. He has been with HCA in CEO and other progressively responsible leadership roles for 12 years at several facilities, including Northern Virginia Community and Dominion Hospitals in Arlington and Falls Church, Va., and Henrico Doctors’ Hospitals in Richmond, Va. He has also held positions with the HealthSouth Corporation in Richmond and was employed as an exercise physiologist at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus in the mid-1990s.
Mr. Hill received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion and his Master of Education degree from Auburn University. He received a Master of Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.
Frank Austin
Senior Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Public Relations
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Frank Austin joined Columbus Regional in January 2013 as the System's Senior Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Public Relations. He comes to Columbus from California, where he was Director of Marketing for Dignity Health, a 40-hospital system with facilities in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona. Previously, he was Director of Marketing and Sales for Health Plan of San Mateo, a managed care health system in California. He was also Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y. He has been actively involved in many community and professional organizations, including the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Chamber of Commerce, and International Association of Business Communicators.
Michelle Breitfelder, MSN, RN, FACHE, CIC
Senior Vice President for Clinical Transformation
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Michelle Breitfelder, MSN, RN, FACHE, CIC, joined the Columbus Regional Executive Leadership team in November 2012 as the Senior Vice President for Clinical Transformation. Prior to her current role, Mrs. Breitfelder served as the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Hughston Hospital.
A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Mrs. Breitfelder has held many leadership positions in healthcare. For almost 14 years, she was employed at Hughston Hospital. Prior to becoming Vice President and CNO in 2007, she was Hughston Hospital’s Director of Nursing from 2004-2007 and Infection Control Coordinator and ICU Manager from 2000-2004. She was also an administrator of Georgia Baptist Home Health for the Columbus and Pine Mountain area from 1997-1999 and administrator of Clear Lake Home Health in Clear Lake, Texas, from 1995-1997. She has also worked in critical care, cardiac rehabilitation, and public health.
Mrs. Breitfelder received a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Troy University, and a Nursing diploma from Flower School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio. She also holds a certification in Infection Control.
William Brouwer
President and Chief Executive Officer
Columbus Regional Physician Group
William Brouwer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Columbus Regional Physician Group (CRPG), joined Columbus Regional in February 2013. His 30 years of executive and operational experience in the healthcare industry has included physician hospital relationships, managed care,start-up acquisitions, and single and multi-specialty facilities.
Mr. Brouwer comes to Columbus from Bloomington, Ill. where he was Director of Healthcare Practice for Navigant Consulting . Previously, he was President of Physicians Management Corporation at BroMenn Medical Center and Vice President of Operations at Advocate Medical Group, both in Normal, Ill. He was also Executive Director of Managed Care for Adventist Health – West in Roseville, Calif. and CEO of Visalia Medical Clinic in Visalia, Calif.
Mr. Brouwer has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colo. He is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Ryan Chandler
President and CEO of The Medical Center
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Ryan Chandler joined Columbus Regional in June 2012. Mr. Chandler comes to The Medical Center from Firelands Regional Healthcare System in Sandusky, Ohio, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management degree and his Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Louisiana State University.
Douglas Colburn
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Doug Colburn joined Columbus Regional in July 2010 as Chief Information Officer. He comes to Columbus from the Nebraska Heart Institute and Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. He began as director of Information Technology at the Institute and was promoted to CIO following the construction of the physician-owned hospital. Mr. Colburn is a graduate of Union College where he received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems with a pre-medical school emphasis. He also holds a master's degree in healthcare administration from Bellevue University.
Laura Drew
Senior Vice President for Constant Readiness and Regulatory Compliance
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Laura Drew joined Columbus Regional as the Senior Vice President for Constant Readiness and Regulatory Compliance in October of 2012. With over 23 years of healthcare related experience in both profit and not-for-profit hospitals, Ms. Drew primary focus has been in Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance. In addition, the last two years she volunteered as a National Baldrige Examiner. Prior to coming to Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Ms. Drew was the Director of Quality Outcomes at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, a Thomson Reuter Top 100 hospital. Ms. Drew received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Oregon and a Master of Business Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bonnie Franco
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of The Medical Center
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Bonnie Franco, M.S.N., M.P.A., R.N., joined Columbus Regional in June 2012 as Vice President of Nursing Operations at The Medical Center. Mrs. Franco was formerly Administrative Director of Nursing Excellence at St. Francis Hospital, where she has over 30 years experience and progressive nursing leadership roles in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She holds a Master in Nursing degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University. She is currently president of the West Central District Organization for Nurse Leaders, vice president of Georgia Organization of Nurse Leaders, and a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She was a 2009 recipient of Georgia Hospital Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tamara L. (“Tami”) Jackson, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer, Doctors Hospital
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Tamara L. (“Tami”) Jackson, FACHE, joined Columbus Regional in April 2013 as the Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital. She is the first woman to serve in a CEO role in the history of Doctors Hospital and Columbus Regional Healthcare System. Ms. Jackson began her career as a patient transporter when she completed high school. In 1981, she was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Providence Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio, and joined Firelands Regional Medical Center in 1985. She held several progressive leadership positions, the most recent as Senior Vice President for Operations and Chief Nursing Officer.
Ms. Jackson earned her LPN diploma from Sandusky School of Practical Nursing in 1981; her RN diploma from Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Sandusky in 1984; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bowling Green State University in 1986; Master of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Ohio in 1998; and is a current Doctorate of Nursing Candidate at the University of Toledo, with projected completion in Spring 2014.
She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society.
D. Wayne Joiner
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Wayne Joiner currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Inc. Mr. Joiner was appointed to his current role in November 2008. Prior to his current appointment, he had served as Vice President from March 1990 to November 2008 and Assistant Vice President since 1987. He served as Assistant Director of Human Resources for The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia, from 1983-1985, and as Director of Human Resources from 1985-1987. He joined the staff of The Medical Center in 1981 as an employment specialist.
Mr. Joiner is a graduate of Columbus State University, and holds a master’s degree in personnel management from Troy State University. He is a past president and member of the Georgia Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration, a member and has served on the board of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration, a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, and past President of the Society for Human Resource Management, Columbus chapter.
In addition, Mr. Joiner is past Chairman of the board of directors of the Valley Rescue Mission, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus, and has served on the board for the Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Urban League of Greater Columbus and most recently served on the board of directors of the Columbus Technical College Foundation. He currently serves on the board of The Literacy Alliance of Columbus and Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc. Mr. Joiner is a 1991 graduate of Leadership Columbus.
L.M. “Tripp” Layfield III
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Tripp Layfield joined Columbus Regional as director of legal services in 2002. He was appointed vice president and general counsel in 2003 and to his current position in 2008. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn University and spent five years in Washington, D.C., as a political appointee in the Reagan and Bush administrations. He earned his law degree from Mercer University Law School in Macon, Ga., and returned to Columbus to practice law in 1995. He is admitted to practice before the Bars of Georgia, Alabama and the District of Columbia.
John Sims, FACHE
Executive Director, Spring Harbor at Green Island
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
John Sims has over 30 years experience in skilled nursing and long-term care. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Spring Harbor at Green Island, a continuing care retirement community, Mr. Sims was the Senior Vice President of Columbus Regional Healthcare System. He holds a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a master's degree in aging from the University of North Texas. Mr. Sims is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a past chairman of the Georgia Healthcare Association, a long-term care organization. Mr. Sims held a senior management position at Columbus Regional from 1996-2001 and rejoined the organization in 2008.
Roland L. Thacker
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Roland Thacker joined Columbus Regional in 1995 as CFO for the Hospital Division. Reorganization of the financial staff occurred in 1996 and he was given responsibility for financial operations of the health system. Before joining Columbus Regional he spent 13 years with Columbia/HCA in various hospital financial positions. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Georgia Southwestern State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Valdosta State University, also in Georgia. He is an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Mark Twilla
Chief Operating Officer of The Medical Center
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Mark Twilla, R.N., B.S.N., M.H.A., is the Chief Operating Officer of The Medical Center. With over 18 years of healthcare-related experiences, Mr. Twilla’s concentration has been in both profit and not-for-profit hospital operations, business development, physician relations and managed care. Additionally, he is a Registered Nurse, giving him a unique perspective to healthcare administration and organizational operations.
Most recently, Mr. Twilla was Vice President of Support Services at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. He has also held leadership positions at Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, N.C., University of North Carolina Health Care System, Inc. in Chapel Hill, N.C., Four County Health Network in Henderson, N.C. and Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, N.C. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.