Carilion Clinic promotes COO Arner to president

Carilion Clinic has promoted its executive vice president and chief operating officer, Steve Arner, to president of the Roanoke-based nonprofit health system. He will remain COO while taking on new duties as president, Carilion said in its announcement Tuesday.

Nancy Howell Agee, who has served as CEO and president since 2011, will also continue as CEO.

In addition to serving as Carilion Clinic’s COO and executive vice president for the health care organization’s Roanoke operations since 2012, Arner has been president and CEO of the 703-bed Level 1 trauma center Carilion Medical Center since 2014. As president, Arner will oversee day-to-day management of the $2.4 billion health system’s seven hospitals and more than 240 medical offices.

He also played a significant role in the state’s COVID-19 response as chair of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association from October 2020 through April 2022.

After joining Carilion in 2005, Arner held leadership roles in hospital administration, cardiac and vascular services, surgical services and facility management, and he also was president and CEO of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital. In 2003, Arner earned an MBA from Brigham Young University.

During his time with Carilion, Arner helped spearhead capital improvements, including the Crystal Spring Tower addition to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, which will be completed in 2025.

“Steve is an outstanding leader, and we are delighted to promote him,” Agee said in a statement. “He has a strong work ethic and cares deeply about our patients, our teams and our work together caring for the communities we serve.”

As VHHA chair, Arner coordinated the collective response of Virginia’s health care provider organizations to the pandemic, and he has served on the VHHA board since 2014 and its executive committee since 2015. Arner was also state delegate to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board from 2016 to 2021 and serves on the strategic planning committee for America’s Essential Hospitals.

“Carilion today is a nationally ranked academic health system that provides an extraordinary range of services, from primary care to the most advanced, complex care,” Arner said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing on a pathway of growth and collaboration.”