April 30, 2021 –
Michael D. Scherneck, president and chief executive officer, recently announced his intent
to retire from Southeast Georgia Health System in early 2022.
Scherneck has spent nearly two decades in leadership roles with the Health
System, including more than 12 years as the executive vice president and
chief financial officer. In 2015, Scherneck was appointed president &
chief executive officer by the
Southeast Georgia Health System, Inc. Board of Directors.
“Mike has positioned the Health System well for the future and guided
us through some extraordinary times, including three hurricanes and a
global pandemic,” says Kay Hampton, incoming chair, Southeast Georgia
Health System, Inc. “We are very appreciative of his leadership.
During a time when many hospitals are struggling or scaling back services,
the Health System has remained financially secure and able to meet our
community’s health needs.”
During his tenure, Scherneck has led numerous initiatives to enhance the
Health System’s ability to provide quality health care to the communities
it serves, including the creation of a physician strategy and the growth
of the Health System’s affiliated physician practice group,
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates. Scherneck also helped create partnerships, such as
Coastal Community Health, a regional alliance with Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, to
share best practices, optimize resources and achieve greater efficiency,
higher quality of care and better patient outcomes.
A significant highlight of Scherneck’s tenure includes the $142 million
Master Renovation and Expansion Project of its Brunswick Campus, launched in 2018. Many phases of the project,
including the
Surgical Services and Inpatient Tower, Parkwood Drive main entrance and lobby, and covered
visitor/patient parking areas were completed in 2020. Three major phases of the
Emergency Care Center renovation are also complete and the final phase is slated for completion
in July 2021. The renovation of two existing patient floors has begun
and will finish in 2022.
Scherneck also continues to lead the Health System through the
COVID-19 pandemic, expanding the Health System’s intensive care capabilities;
securing necessary supplies and equipment; dedicating resources for community
COVID-19 testing; bringing additional highly regarded critical care physicians
to the community; and investing resources to provide more than 35,000
COVID-19 vaccinations to area residents. He also developed a collaborative
relationship with the Department of Public Health’s Coastal Health
District, partnering to provide testing, vaccination and education events
to the community.
“When the coronavirus pandemic hit our communities, the importance
of building partnerships became evident in order to meet our communities’
needs,” says Lawton C. Davis, M.D., District Health Director, Coastal
Health District. “The collaboration between the Coastal Health District
and Southeast Georgia Health System allowed efficient sharing of resources
and expertise for COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and illustrates the
importance of public-private partnerships.”
“I’m very proud to have served the Health System, my fellow
team members, and this community,” says Scherneck. “From the
time my wife, Kathy, and I arrived here in 2003, we have developed a great
affinity for our community. It has proven to be a wonderful opportunity,
both professionally and personally, one for which I will be forever grateful.
Our community is such that we are friends and family caring for friends
and family and I am honored to have played a part in that service commitment.”
In addition to his Health System role, Scherneck serves on several professional
and community boards, including the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals,
Vizient Southern States, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, United
Way of Coastal Georgia, Morningstar Children and Family Services, Inc.,
and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Finance Council.
Scherneck has been working with the Southeast Georgia Health System, Inc.
Board of Directors on succession planning since September 2020, providing
ample time to prepare for a successful transition. The Board established
a search committee and hired an executive search firm. While Scherneck
has identified early 2022 as his target retirement timeframe, he has agreed
to continue with the Health System until a new president and chief executive
officer has transitioned into the role.
Additional highlights of Scherneck’s CEO tenure include:
- 2020: Georgia Trend includes Camden Campus in its Top Small Hospital List
- 2020: Brunswick Campus ranked high performing in “Heart Failure”
and “COPD” by U.S. News & World Report
- 2020: Health System receives American Heart Association/American Stroke
Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Silver Plus Quality
Achievement Award
- 2019: Brunswick Campus designated Baby-Friendly hospital by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.
- 2019: Brunswick Campus awarded American Orthopaedic Association’s®
Own the Bone Program Star Performer
- 2019: Health System receives LifeLink® of Georgia Workplace Partnership
for Life Platinum Award
- 2018: Georgia Trend includes Brunswick Campus in its Top Medium Hospital List
- 2017: Scherneck named CEO/Administrator of the Year by the Council on Auxiliaries/Volunteers
of the Georgia Hospital Association.