The president of UNC Health Rex — the oldest hospital in Raleigh — for the past five years is leaving to become president of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
Ernie Bovio‘s last day at UNC Health Rex will be Jan. 7. Chief Operating Officer Kirsten Riggs will serve as interim president until a successor is named.
Jeff Lindsay, the interim president of Novant Health New Hanover, announced last week he was leaving to become president and chief operating officer with UNC Health. Novant bought the Wilmington hospital, which has 700 beds, for $1.5 billion in 2021. UNC Health was also a bidder.
During Bovio’s tenure, UNC Health Rex, which has 665 beds, kept up with increasing demand in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions. The organization opened a new, 50-bed community hospital in Holly Springs and a new Cancer Center across the street from its main Raleigh campus.
“I’d like to thank Ernie for his leadership at Rex, which is widely recognized as one of the top hospitals in North Carolina,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health, in a statement. “His success at Rex included leading the organization through the pandemic, overseeing significant growth, and unifying operations with UNC Health Johnston.”
Rex is the only hospital in North Carolina, and one of only 18 nationwide, to receive straight As since Leapfrog began its hospital safety report cards in 2012.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work Rex physicians and teammates do every day to care for all of our patients,” Bovio said. “I take great comfort in knowing we have an excellent leadership team that will continue to guide Rex into the future.”
Riggs joined Rex in 1998 and has held prior leadership roles in cardiology, surgical services and ambulatory administration. She serves on the board of Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh and the North Carolina Heart & Vascular Research Board.
She’s also on the boards of Rex Health Ventures and Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University and an MHA from Pfeiffer University.