NEWS RELEASE – October 16, 2023
Byron Gabbard Named New ARH Chief Finance Officer
October 16, 2023 – Byron Gabbard, MBA, has been named Chief Finance Officer for the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system.
With a career in healthcare spanning 25 years, Gabbard has served as Executive Vice President of Financial Operations for ARH since July 2021 and stepped into the role of Interim CFO for ARH in July. As CFO, Gabbard will oversee the system’s revenue cycle, payor contracting, enterprise decision support, accounting, supply chain, value-based care initiatives, enterprise strategy oversight, and business development.
“Byron has a proven track record of success in leading finance teams and a deep understanding of the financial challenges and opportunities we face as a not-for-profit system with multiple hospitals and other care centers situated throughout eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia,” says ARH President and CEO Hollie Phillips. “I am excited to have him on board in this new role and look forward to continuing to work with him as we build a stronger future for ARH.”
Gabbard says it is an honor to be entrusted with the expanded responsibilities for such a longstanding health system.
“For over 60 years, ARH’s demonstrated commitment to the delivery of high-quality healthcare services within Central Appalachia has been evident and unwavering. It is an honor to support the advancement of our critically important mission within the region we serve,” Gabbard says. “I am appreciative of the trust and support that Hollie and my colleagues have placed in me as I move into this expanded role and look forward to working with key stakeholders from across the system to improve value for our patients through efficiency, innovation, and strategic growth.”
Prior to joining ARH, Gabbard served 18 years at the University of Kentucky HealthCare system, most recently as the Associate Vice President of Finance, providing strategic direction and oversight for the core finance team, business analytics, and supply chain.
A native of Lexington, where he currently resides with his family, Gabbard earned a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Eastern Kentucky University in 1998 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Morehead State University in 2019.
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Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), is a not-for-profit health system operating 14 hospitals in Barbourville, Hazard, Harlan, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, as well as multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores and retail pharmacies. ARH employs more than 6,500 people with an annual payroll and benefits of $330 million generated into our local economies. ARH also has a network of more than 600 active and courtesy medical staff members. ARH is the largest provider of care and the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.