Andy Davis, CEO of Sandhills Regional Medical Center, has accepted a position as president and chief executive officer of Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville.

Davis Regional, a 150-bed facility, is an affiliate of Health Management Associates (HMA).

“This was not an easy decision for me or my family,” Davis said. “I consider Hamlet and Richmond County home. This community has treated me like one of its own.”

Davis has 11 years of healthcare experience in operations, finance and improving satisfaction for all constituents, said Angela M. Marchi, HMA vice president of operations for Division 1, which includes Sandhills Regional.

“While at Sandhills Regional, Davis demonstrated his leadership talents by successfully growing the volume, recruiting physicians and focusing on quality outcomes,” Marchi said.

Davis started at Sandhills Regional in July 2005. Since that time, the hospital opened the county’s first wound care center. It has also obtained two state Certificates of Need: one to expand the hospital by six beds and the other to add a fixed-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, which will be the first in the county once completed next year.

After Oct. 4, the hospital will employ the largest multi-specialty physician practice group in the Sandhills area.

“The overwhelming theme of these accomplishments is that we did this together,” Davis said in a letter to the hospital and medical staff. “I am confident that Sandhills will continue to thrive and grow. It will continue to serve patients with care and dignity. I am proud to have been a part of it for four years.”

Davis was active in the community, having served on various boards including, but not limited to, Richmond County Hospice, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Hamlet Rotary, Leadership Richmond, Pee Dee Region Workforce Development Board, Richmond 2010 Executive Committee, Richmond County Economic Development Board, the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship Committee, and Sandhills Community Care Network. He also serves on the Policy Development Committee of the N.C. Hospital Association.

His official last day at Sandhills Regional is Sept. 4. There will be a public reception Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Cole Auditorium.