Lindy White promoted to president of Ballad Health’s Northwest Market
After a decades-long career in hospital leadership, current Northwest Market president Monty McLaurin announces retirement plan
Lindy White, chief executive officer of Ballad Health’s Kingsport operations, has been selected to serve as president of the Northwest Market, which includes Ballad Health’s two Kingsport hospitals as well as hospitals in Hawkins, Hancock, Wise and Dickenson Counties, and the planned hospital in Lee County.
White begins her new position on June 1, and will succeed Monty McLaurin, who will retire at the end of the year. McLaurin will continue to serve in an advisory capacity on a number of projects for the remainder of the year; his retirement follows a long and successful career history that includes a 15-year tenure in Kingsport.
“It is an honor to be appointed to this role, and I am so excited to jump right in and begin collaborating with all the hospitals in the Northwest Market,” said White. “During my time as the leader of the Kingsport Market, I think we’ve made wonderful progress, and I look forward to working closely with our other great hospitals in the Northwest Market to support them as they seek to achieve their potential.
“Our hospitals in Hawkins, Hancock, Wise and Dickenson counties are fortunate to have strong and passionate leaders who have earned my respect and admiration. The culture in this region is so positive, and you can really see the pride in all these facilities. I am committed to assisting these leaders where needed to help strengthen healthcare in their communities and ensure they have the support they need to be successful.”
With more than 20 years of experience in the region, White returned to the area in January to serve Ballad Health’s Kingsport hospitals as CEO of Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital.
As president of the larger market, White will now be responsible for leading Holston Valley Medical Center, Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Hancock County Hospital, Indian Path Community Hospital, Lonesome Pine Hospital, Mountain View Regional Hospital, Norton Community Hospital and Dickenson Community Hospital, as well as the hospital Ballad Health is working with the Lee County Hospital Authority to reopen in Pennington Gap, Va. She will ensure the facilities maintain high-quality care and work together to pursue the long-term strategic vision of Ballad Health to improve the health of the community.
While she will be the new market leader, White’s primary responsibility will continue to be her role as CEO of Ballad Health’s hospitals in the Kingsport market, where Holston Valley serves as the tertiary hub for the surrounding counties and hospitals.
White is a native of Southwest Virginia and owns a farm in Gate City, Virginia. She was born at Smyth County Community Hospital, and began her career in healthcare there as a staff accountant in 1992.
During her time there, she earned a string of promotions, eventually becoming the hospital’s chief executive officer in 2005.
Before her return to Ballad Health, White served as the chief executive officer of Providence Northeast Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, which is part of LifePoint Health.
White has a long history with Ballad Health, serving as the chief executive officer of Franklin Woods Community Hospital and Woodridge Hospital. While under her leadership, both facilities received national awards for clinical quality, patient satisfaction and nursing excellence. From 2014 to 2018, Franklin Woods was twice named one of the top 100 hospitals in the U.S. by Truven Health Analytics and received the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. During that time, Woodridge Hospital received the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for patient satisfaction three years in a row.
“Lindy is an inspiring leader with a bold vision,” said Eric Deaton, Ballad Health’s senior vice president of market operations. “She’s a great fit to lead our Northwest Market into the future, and I’m confident she’ll quickly earn the respect and esteem of our team members and physicians throughout the market.
“Monty has been an advocate for healthcare in this region, and a prominent leader in Kingsport and its surrounding areas, for many years. I am grateful to Monty for his leadership during the merger and the first year of operations of the Northwest Market. On a personal note, I consider Monty to be a great friend, and I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
