UVA Community Health taps interim leader as permanent CEO

Erik Shannon, who has served as interim CEO of UVA Community Health since October 2021, will continue in the role permanently, the health system announced Tuesday.

Shannon’s new status is effective immediately.

UVA Community Health, formerly Novant Health UVA Health System, has three community hospitals and a network of primary and specialty medical practices and outpatient centers. The medical staff has more than 850 physicians representing 60 specialties and subspecialties and has 2,500 employees. UVA Health acquired Novant in July 2021.

Before serving as interim CEO, Shannon was a partner at Grant Thornton LLP, where he helped lead the transition to integrate UVA Community Health into UVA Health. He has more than 30 years of health care experience.

“During his extensive health care career, Erik has led significant strategic initiatives across more than 75 health care systems across the country in addition to having vast experience in community hospital leadership roles,” UVA Health CEO Dr. K. Craig Kent said in a statement. “Through his transition leadership role, and now over the past 12 months of working to integrate the three community hospitals, clinics and medical group into UVA Health, Erik has accumulated deep knowledge of all of UVA Community Health’s operations and is the right leader to take UVA Community Health forward.”

He will oversee day-to-day patient operations, partner with UVA Health leadership and community leaders and integrate UVA Community Health entities into UVA Health, which includes aligning medical record and IT systems.

“This is an incredibly exciting time to be part of UVA Health as it extends its reach and expands its ability to improve health for patients in even more communities across the commonwealth,” Shannon said. “I am grateful to be part of a team with so many talented and dedicated individuals, and I look forward to continuing this important work together.”