LAURINBURG – After spending eight years as a member of the Scotland Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees, Kirsten Dean has moved into the full-time position of its Executive Director.

Mrs. Dean began her new Foundation duties on Monday. “Going from board member to Executive Director is so exciting,” she stated. “This is a big transition not just for me, but for the Foundation staff and the board members as well. However, the Foundation has a great team and everyone is very supportive.

Mrs. Dean is well known locally for her commitment to the community as well as to Scotland Health Care System. “I have been involved with the Foundation for about 15 years,” she stated. I hope to continue to grow the Foundation, its supporters, and its services and the events provided to this community. I am also looking forward to opportunities for professional growth and development which my new role will provide.”

Mrs. Dean’s past and ongoing community service includes serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board, Scotland County Parks and Recreation Foundation, Downtown Revitalization Board, the Literacy Council, the Junior Service League, Laurinburg Presbyterian Church activities, and the Rotary Club. She is married to Bob Dean and has a son, Jennings, who will be eight in February. Though originally from Charleston, West Virginia, Mrs. Dean has lived in Laurinburg since 1993. She first worked with Art Works and in 1998 she and two partners opened Art By Design. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Guilford College in Greensboro.

Scotland Memorial Foundation’s purpose is to assist Scotland Health Care System as its fundraising arm. The funds raised support events such as the Women’s Health Event, which is this Saturday, free health screenings, scholarships, the Compassionate Care Fund, and the Indigent Patient Fund. “We also provide grant money to hospital departments for equipment purchases or to fund special needs and projects not covered in their operating capital,” added Mrs. Dean.

“We are very fortunate to have a health care system such as this in our community,” Mrs. Dean commented. “In addition to the wonderful services this health care system provides, it is also a significant economic engine, and I look forward to my new leadership role with the system.“

Nancy Adcock, Chair of the Scotland Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees, says the Foundation board is delighted with the addition of Mrs. Dean to the staff. “Kirsten knows both our community and the Foundation’s mission extremely well. Her rich and varied background makes her a great leader. As a Board, we look forward to Kirsten’s enthusiasm and strong work ethic as we continue with our strategic plans to serve our community through our support of Scotland Health Care System.”

Clyde Louis Thomas, Scotland Health Care System’s new Vice President of Strategic Development, comes to Laurinburg and the health care system from MedWest Health System, a three hospital system located in Waynesville, North Carolina.

Mr. Thomas held several positions at MedWest Health System over the past four years, including director of a large physician practice, Director of Practice Operations for several of their hospital-owned physician practices, and Director of Development. In this last role he was responsible for MedWest’s rapidly growing network of over 50 providers.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta (Georgia Tech), Mr. Thomas then earned a Master’s in Business Administration as well as a Masters in Health Administration, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE), and this spring will earn a Fellowship from the ACHE. He is also a certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) with the Medical Group Managers Association.

Greg Wood, the System’s President and CEO commented that he is delighted with the selection of Mr. Thomas for this executive position. “Mr. Thomas has both strong relationship and quantitative skills and brings us a wealth of positive, enthusiastic experience and energy. He will directly oversee many of our key service lines, Scotland Regional Health Network which includes our physician practices, Marketing and Community Relations, Physician Recruitment, and the Imaging and Rehab Services. A major part of his responsibilities includes leading our growth efforts throughout the system and creating a more integrated system between our different service components.”

Thomas stated that every day in health care is a learning experience. “After graduating from Georgia Tech I was leaning toward a career in Information Systems and started working with a healthcare system in Georgia, which provided a lot of growth opportunities. Upon completion of grad school I did an administrative residency at a hospital, which gave me exposure to the hospital administration. For the past year I’ve been responsible for long-term organizational strategic goals and developing business plans for multiple physician practices.”

Thomas added that his role at Scotland Health Care System, “is a great opportunity for me – it’s a profitable system, and has a great management team. The added bonus is the excellent support Scotland receives from Carolinas HealthCare System, which will help me quickly come up to speed with my critical role here.”

Originally from the small town of Blue Ridge, Georgia, Thomas says he will fit into the Laurinburg community very well. “Everyone here is very warm and welcoming. I look forward to becoming a part of and being involved in the community, as I was in Waynesville.”