MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 14, 2009 – Baptist Memorial hospitals recently hired or promoted several colleagues to manager or director positions.

• Jamie Barthol was named director of materials management after serving less than a year with Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville. Barthol has been with Baptist since June of 2008 and previously served as a materials management tech.
• Robert Gwartney is now the assistant administrator for Baptist Collierville. He was the director of ambulatory services at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Medical Center from 1998 to 2000. He joined Baptist Collierville in 2000 as the director of ancillary services. Gwartney also served in a number of director positions while with St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1980 until 1998.
• Baptist College of Health Sciences named Leanne Smith the chief financial officer and vice president of financial services. Smith has been with the College for 14 years and previously served as a staff accountant, finance manager, controller, bursar and director of financial services.

One of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the United States, Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South. The Baptist system, which consistently ranks among the top integrated health care networks in the nation, comprises 15 hospitals in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas; more than 3,100 affiliated physicians; home, hospice and psychiatric care; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences. Baptist has more than 2,600 licensed beds systemwide, employs more than 12,000 people and has approximately 85,000 admissions annually. In fiscal year 2008, Baptist provided more than $485 million in community benefit to the communities it serves.

For more information about Baptist, please visit www.baptistonline.org or call 800-4-BAPTIST.

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