Cartersville Medical Center CEO Announces Retirement

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- After spending four decades in the healthcare field, Cartersville Medical Center President and CEO Keith Sandlin has announced his plans to retire in January. Sandlin has dedicated 34 of those years to the Cartersville institution, and said he feels great pride and ownership in being part of the hospital's growth and success.

“I am very excited about the future of Cartersville Medical Center," he added. "There are excellent leaders, fantastic staff and wonderful doctors here, and our medical community is poised for tremendous growth. With another significant facility expansion and major growth plans in the works, the future is very bright.”

In 1983, Sandlin assumed the role of CEO at the former Sam Howell Hospital in Cartersville, and so began a tenure unmatched by any other CEO in HCA, the parent company of Cartersville Medical Center (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

In 1985, Sandlin coordinated the construction and opening of the new 80-bed Cartersville Medical Center. During his tenure, Sandlin led multiple facility expansions on the CMC campus, including three expansions of the emergency room, operating room, Mother/Baby unit, ICU/CCU, oncology (The Hope Center) and ancillary expansions in the laboratory, imaging and pharmacy areas.

Additionally, under Sandlin’s leadership, the hospital’s licensed bed count increased to the current 119 slots and four new medical office buildings were developed on the hospital campus. Sandlin was also responsible for recruiting more than 100 physicians in multiple specialties and sub specialties to the community and as a result was able to develop new service line programs in oncology, cardiology, neurosciences, pulmonology, vascular services and interventional radiology.

“It is rare to see a CEO open a hospital, recruit a medical staff and team, and see the hospital through multiple expansions and service line developments," said Heather J. Rohan, division president of TriStar Health, a division of HCA. "Keith has set the example for living our mission and Dr. Thomas Frist’s philosophy of “good people beget good people. We wish Keith and his wife, Carol, the very best."

Benny McDonald, chief financial officer and long-time friend and co-worker, added Sandlin, the hospital's first and only CEO, has been a leader who recognizes "a great need in the community for local care." He spent 10 years working to obtain approval from the state to build The Hope Center, which McDonald said has become a "thriving regional cancer center."

Sandlin has been a member of the Georgia Hospital Association board for the past 10 years and served as chairman in 2007. In 2012, he was named a GHA Hospital Hero, a prestigious award recognizing outstanding service to the healthcare field in the state of Georgia. Additionally, Sandlin served on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board for Six Southeastern States and was an AHA delegate.

He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has actively served his community on several local boards, including Synovus Bank, Cartersville Rotary Club, Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, Chattahoochee Technical College and Etowah Foundation.

Sandlin and Carol, his wife of 41 years, have lived in Cartersville for 34 years. They attend Sam Jones United Methodist Church. Once he retires, Sandlin said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, as well as his three adult daughters and their families.

Image via Cartersville Medical Center