Business

Retired admiral will continue as WakeMed CEO

The retired admiral who has served as WakeMed chief executive officer on an interim basis since October will take the position full-time, the hospital group system of directors announced Tuesday.

Posted Updated

RALEIGH, N.C. — The retired admiral who has served as WakeMed chief executive officer on an interim basis since October will take the position full-time, the hospital group system of directors announced Tuesday.

Rear Admiral Donald Gintzig stepped in as interim president and chief executive after longtime CEO Dr. Bill Atkinson resigned amid a split with the board of directors over the direction of the 884-bed hospital system.

Gintzig retired on Oct. 1 from the Navy, where he also served as senior health care executive and acting deputy surgeon general.

“In addition to having the right credentials, Donald’s leadership style has proven to be a good fit with the culture of our organization," said William H. McBride, WakeMed board chairman. "He has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to WakeMed’s mission, patient and family-centered care, physician engagement, fiscal stewardship and the health of our community."

Before his most recent posts, Gintzig served as deputy commander and chief operating officer of Navy Medicine East, vice commander for U.S. Navy Reserve Forces Command and deputy commander and COO for Navy Medicine West. During his military career, he has overseen more than 150,000 people, 40 military treatment facilities and more than 200 clinics and budgets of more than $7 billion.

He has also served as CEO for hospitals across the country, including St. Thomas Health Service in Nashville, Tenn., The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic and Schuylkill Health Care Services in Pottsville, Pa., Lutheran General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and Brazosport Memorial Hospital in Lake Jackson, Texas. He has also served as CEO and senior vice president of military and veterans services for United Health Group in Minneapolis.

Gintzig earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is married and has three grown daughters.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.