Randy Sauls, CEO On August 1, longtime South Georgia Medical Center Chief Executive Officer James McGahee will retire and former Chief Operating Officer and Administrator Randy Sauls will become the hospital’s new CEO. Sauls is the seventh CEO to lead SGMC in its 56 year history. The announcement was made at the meeting of the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County on July 20.As the new CEO, Sauls will lead SGMC into its next dimension of growth. SGMC will acquire the 45-bed Smith Northview hospital on September 1, and construction of a new 130,000 square foot patient tower will begin in late fall. “These are fascinating times and I am humbled and honored to be asked to lead our organization forward,” Sauls stated. Sauls began his hospital career working at both Saint Mary’s Hospital and Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, GA. He worked at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele from 1981 to 1995 as assistant administrator. He was recruited by South Georgia Medical Center in 1995 to serve as the administrator of Louis Smith Memorial Hospital in neighboring Lakeland. He also simultaneously served as interim administrator at Clinch Memorial Hospital, in Homerville, on two separate occasions between 1997 and 2000. He accepted the chief operating officer’s position at SGMC in 2000. A native of Tifton, Sauls graduated from the paramedic program at Valdosta Technical College and received an Associate’s degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He continued his education at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education. He was awarded a Master’s in Business Administration in 1992 from Albany State College. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Sauls is married to Denise H. Sauls, a registered professional nurse. They have two children, Hilary M. Sauls, a practicing attorney and Emily F. Sauls, a senior at Valdosta High School.South Georgia Medical Center is a 335-bed hospital serving a 15-county service area in south central Georgia and north Florida. SGMC is the largest economic generator in the region with an annual economic impact of $601 million annually. For more information, contact SGMC’s Community Relations office at 229.259.4421.
