2026 Virginia C-Suite Awards: MARK NANTZ

Nantz stepped into the top role at Valley Health in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, inheriting a six-hospital system of roughly 6,000 employees serving more than 500,000 residents across the northern Shenandoah Valley and into West Virginia and Maryland. His leadership has focused on expanding access to care, investing in new facilities and capabilities, and strengthening workforce engagement.

Under his leadership, Valley Health broke ground in 2025 on a behavioral health pavilion and two new healthcare facilities. The system also introduced robotic-assisted surgery at Warren Memorial Hospital, while Winchester Medical Center earned its 12th consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog. Valley Health was also named one of America’s Best-in-State Employers by Forbes and one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care by Newsweek.

“Throughout my 30-plus year career in healthcare, I have believed that leaders exist to support their teams, remove barriers and create the conditions in which people can do their best work,” Nantz says.
A former certified public accountant and fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Nantz began his career at KPMG before holding executive roles at Carolinas HealthCare System and Bon Secours Mercy Health. He previously chaired the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association board.

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