Baptist Health Corbin president promoted to head Louisville hospital

LOUISVILLE — Baptist Health Corbin President Larry W. Gray has been promoted to head the health system’s largest hospital.

He replaces David Gray as president of the 519-bed Baptist Health Louisville. David Gray had served as president there since 2011.

“Over the past seven years, Larry Gray has served Baptist Health Corbin and the people of Southeastern Kentucky well,” said Gerard Colman, Baptist Health CEO. “His visionary leadership has led to much-needed and expanded healthcare services for area communities. We know Larry will bring that same spirit and drive to Louisville. This is a wonderful opportunity for a great leader.”

Named interim president was Anthony W. Powers, RN, MSN, MBA, vice president. The 20-year employee began his career as a staff nurse, rising to nursing director and then Chief Nursing Officer before taking the vice president role with responsibility for the largest service lines at the Corbin hospital. The 44-year-old also served as interim president in the transition to Gray’s leadership.

“I know of no one who understands the Corbin market and the community better than Anthony Powers,” said Larry Gray. “He will lead a gifted and competent leadership group as they move into a new future.  The leadership team is asking innovative questions about what is possible and they are executing on strategies. There are exciting projects on the runway that will transform service to this community.”

Arriving in 2011, Gray focused on improved services at the 273-bed facility that serves Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell, Clay, McCreary, Harlan and Campbell counties in Kentucky and nearby Jellico, Tennessee.

Under the 65-year-old’s leadership, the Corbin hospital expanded its heart, cancer, women’s care, behavioral health and addiction treatment services.

Most recently, Baptist Health Corbin earned Pathway to Excellence® recognition nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, achieved Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology, earned a Mission: Lifeline® Bronze Quality Achievement Award, and received Press Ganey’s Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience for its oncology center.

The 35-year employee began his career with Baptist Health as a clinical chaplain at Central Baptist Hospital (now known as Baptist Health Lexington), becoming director of pastoral care in 1986. In 1993, he took on executive duties at the Lexington hospital, becoming vice president for system support and administrative services in 1997.

Since 2002, he has served as adjunct faculty in the master’s degree in health administration program at the University of Kentucky, and was named the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus by the university’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.

About Baptist Health Corbin

Baptist Health Corbin is a 273-bed, acute care facility providing a wide variety of healthcare services to the residents of Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell, Clay, McCreary, Harlan and Campbell counties in Kentucky and nearby Jellico, Tennessee.  Part of Louisville, Kentucky-based Baptist Health, the hospital offers 24 points of care in a full continuum from inpatient care to rehab services to behavioral health.  Services include cardiac, orthopedics, pain management, a full range of women’s services, including obstetrics and breast care;  wound care, pain management, cancer care, and diabetic treatments. 

Formerly known as the Baptist Regional Medical Center, the hospital includes outpatient diagnostic, home care, occupational medicine and physical therapy clinics, and a fitness center. Baptist Health has a network of healthcare providers for patients in the Southeast Kentucky area – from Baptist Health Medical Group offices, to Baptist Health Urgent Care and Baptist Health Express Care inside Walmart stores.