The physician executive has two decades of clinical experience and 15 years of work history in various leadership roles.
Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, announced Monday that a new top executive will take charge this fall.
Barbara Griffith, MD, who has been serving as chief medical officer and chief of business operations for Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, was selected to lead the large specialty hospital as its new CEO after a national search.
"We needed a unique professional who would embrace and further our mission," Donna Fraiche, chair of the Woman's Hospital Board of Directors, said in a statement.
"The Board is confident that Dr. Griffith is the right person to lead Woman's into an exciting future," Fraiche added. "Her expertise in healthcare delivery and strategy, balanced with the compassion and commitment of a physician, are the perfect combination to lead the organization's strategic direction."
Griffith has two decades of clinical work experience and more than 15 years of work history in various leadership roles, according to the announcement. She said it's an honor to be chosen for the job.
"The commitment to providing exceptional care to patients and their families at Woman's is truly inspiring," she said in the statement. "I look forward to joining the team and building on the foundation that has been laid before me."
Griffith will take the reins from interim CEO Robert Burgess, who stepped into the position following the retirement earlier this year of CEO Teri Fontenot, who had been CEO since 2019 and has been named CEO Emeritus.
"We are thankful to Teri for the incredible foundation she established at Woman's and to Robert for upholding our standards of excellence while we searched for our new leader," Fraiche said. "His guidance helps ensure a smooth transition into Dr. Griffith's tenure as CEO."
Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.