Evans, who was raised in the Panama City area, has served as the hospital’s chief operating officer for the past year. He began his healthcare career as a firefighter/paramedic. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in health services administration at the University of Central Florida, he earned his master’s degrees in business administration and healthcare administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“This community means so much to me. I was raised here, I met my wife here, I served as a firefighter here, and now I’m raising my children here,” said Evans. “I’m honored to be entrusted with the position of leading this wonderful hospital as we work together to rebuild, to grow, and to provide this community with compassionate, personalized care as part of Sacred Heart Health System and the Ascension Florida family.”
Evans’ administrative experience in healthcare began in 2006 with a physical therapy practice in Lynn Haven. Before returning to his home community last year, he served most recently as chief operating officer of South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Prior to that, he also served in leadership roles at North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro, and as CEO of Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center in Live Oak, Fla. He is also a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Evans’ promotion came shortly after Ascension, one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, reached final agreement to fully acquire Bay Medical. The hospital and related physician clinics are now operated by Sacred Heart Health System and integrated into the statewide system of Ascension Florida.
“The leaders of Ascension and Sacred Heart are tremendously excited and honored to have someone with Heath’s experience, leadership skills and devotion to the local community to lead Bay Medical Sacred Heart into a new and exciting future,” said Tom VanOsdol, president and CEO of Ascension Florida. “The hospital, its staff and physicians, and the entire community are facing extraordinarily difficult challenges in the wake of Hurricane Michael. And in response to these challenges, we’re casting a new vision and charting a new course for the future for healthcare services in Bay County. We are fully confident Heath is the right leader to help us meet our challenges head-on and bring true clinical excellence, compassionate caring, and differentiated expertise to the individuals and families we’re so blessed to serve.”
Evans and his wife, Angela, were both raised in Lynn Haven and graduated from Mosley High School. They have three young children. Evans attended Gulf Coast Community College for Firefighter Minimum Standards and EMT/Paramedic Training. He served the Bay County community prior to attending graduate school as a firefighter with both Lynn Haven Fire Department and Bay County Fire Rescue.
