Forester Named BCMH President

WVU Health System announced last week that John Forester has been named interim president of WVU Medicine Braxton County Memorial Hospital and Summersville Regional Medical Center effective July 1.
As part of his transition, Forester will work under David Hess, M.D., president and CEO of WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. He is assuming the role currently held by Louis Roe, who is retiring on June 30.
“It is a privilege to oversee Braxton County Memorial Hospital and Summersville Regional Medical Center, in addition to my duties at United Hospital Center,” Dr. Hess said. “WVU Medicine is an organization of exceptionally talented and compassionate people, and I am pleased to announce John Forester as the interim president at both Braxton County Memorial Hospital and Summersville Regional Medical Center. His experience at these facilities will only help to ensure continued growth, addition of service lines, and high-quality care for our patients.”
Forester, who currently serves as a vice president at United Hospital Center and the WVU Health System as well as the CEO of United Physicians Care, Inc., first came to the Health System in 2008. In those roles, he is responsible for the operational oversight and direction of multiple family medicine and specialty practice locations throughout North Central and Central West Virginia and for physician enterprise growth and development for United Physicians Care, United Hospital Center, Summersville Regional Medical Center, Braxton County Memorial Hospital, and other WVU Medicine locations.
Prior to joining the WVU Health System, he held several leadership positions with HealthSouth, including as CEO of its locations in Morgantown and Huntington.
A two-time graduate of WVU, Forester is a member of the Medical Group Management Association, past board member of the West Virginia Hospital Association Board of Trustees and chair of its Payment Advisory Committee, guest speaker and lecturer at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, and past chair and board member of the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve as the interim president of Braxton County Memorial Hospital and Summersville Regional Medical Center,” Forester said. “I am committed to working closely with both physicians and employees in guiding these truly remarkable hospitals. My goal is to continue to provide outstanding service to our patients who entrust us with their care.”