Dr. Chad Couch

Chad Couch, MD, is the president of Ballad Health’s Northern Region, with operational and strategic oversight of all services and operations of Bristol Regional Medical Center, Johnston Memorial Hospital, Russell County Hospital, and Smyth County Community Hospital.

Dr. Couch is an experienced, board-certified urologic surgeon and longtime physician leader with Ballad Health. Prior to becoming president of the Northeast Region, he held the position of interim chief executive officer of Bristol Regional Medical Center, and served as chief medical officer of what was previously Ballad Health’s Northeast Region. During his tenure, the hospital gained accolades for a variety of services and programs, including being recognized as one of the best facilities in the nation for orthopedic surgery, and it earned consistently top rankings for cardiovascular and overall care.

Dr. Couch received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, and earned his MBA in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Tennessee.

Since joining Bristol Regional’s medical staff in 2000, Dr. Couch has served on the hospital’s past board of directors, as chairman of Bristol Regional’s surgery department and as a member of the medical executive committee and Physician Clinical Council.

In addition to his role as Northern Region president, Dr. Couch also serves on the boards of directors for Overmountain Recovery; State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company; the Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce; and the advisory board of Bristol Regional Medical Center. He is also a member of the Healing Hands Health Center Clinical Oversight Committee; past president of the Sullivan County Medical Society; and a past delegate of the Tennessee Medical Association.