Sentara Health announced Thursday that, following a national search, Teresa Watson, MHA, has been selected as the new President of Sentara Albemarle Medical Center (SAMC). Watson’s first day at SAMC will be August 7, 2023.
Watson comes to Sentara from Atrium Health Lincoln in Lincolnton, N.C., where she served as the Facility Executive/President. Prior to this role, Teresa served in various operational roles with Atrium Health including Vice President of Operations for Atrium Health Lincoln, Assistant Vice President & Practice Administrator, and Director of Primary Care for the Carolinas Physician Network.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Teresa to Sentara,” said Terrie Edwards, Interim President, Acute Care, & Regional President for Sentara’s Southside (Hampton Roads, Va.) and northeast North Carolina. “Teresa’s experience, coupled with her longstanding commitment to rural healthcare, made her the best match for this role. She will be a strong asset to the local community as well as Sentara.”
Watson is an experienced leader known for strategy, operational improvement, and demonstrating results. Her track record includes successfully managing the opening of a replacement hospital, serving as the Diversity and Inclusion Chair for Atrium Health’s west market, and being part of Atrium Health’s community impact team that was responsible for identifying opportunities within the community to further the mission of the system.
She also has a long history of community service, including tenures as a YMCA Board member, United Way Board President, American Red Cross Board member, Rotary Club member and Board member, Foundation For The Carolinas member, and more.
“I’m excited to join the SAMC team,” said Watson. “What attracted me the most to this area was the warmth and friendliness of the people, and the quality of care being delivered at SAMC. I’m looking forward to buying a home, getting involved in various groups and really immersing myself in this community.”
In her new role, Watson will also oversee the Sentara Albemarle Regional Health Campus construction project. The first practices to move to the campus will begin opening in July 2023. Moves will continue in phases until the replacement hospital, in which steel construction was completed on June 20, opens in the winter of 2024/2025.
Watson earned a Bachelor of General Studies from Appalachian State University, and a Master of Health Administration from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.
She and her husband, Jim, have one son. Cory is a freshman at Western Carolina University, so her two Yorkies have become her four-legged babies at home. Teresa loves being outdoors, especially on the water. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, and traveling.
Since March 2023, Sherwin Stewart, DSL, Vice President of Operations at Sentara CarePlex Hospital (SCH), has served as the Interim President of SAMC. Stewart will return to SCH in the coming weeks. He has lived in Elizabeth City during the interim period and Sentara is grateful for his impactful leadership. Prior to Stewart, Phillip Jackson, FACHE, DSL, served as president until his retirement in March 2023.
Learn more about Sentara Albemarle Medical Center at sentara.com/albemarle.
