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Earl Rogers / Georgia Hospital Association
Earl Rogers was named president and CEO of the Georgia Hospital Association on July 1, 2013. As GHA’s top executive, Earl leads GHA’s 55-member staff and the association’s subsidiary organizations.
Prior to being named GHA president, Rogers served for more than 30 years in the Georgia government relations arena carving out a reputation as one of the most influential, respected lobbyists under the Gold Dome in Atlanta. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1976, Earl served the first 20 years of his professional career in various roles with the Georgia Power Company including legislative affairs and regional management. In 1996, he was named senior vice president, government affairs for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce where he led the chamber’s legislative activities.
Earl began his career at GHA in November 2005 when he accepted the association’s position as senior vice president, government relations. Since then, he was instrumental in the passage of major legislation benefitting Georgia hospitals related to tort reform, Certificate of Need and Medicaid funding.
Earl and his wife, Mary, are the proud parents of four grown children and grandparents to one grandson.
Fran Baker-Witt / Effingham Health System
Mrs. Baker-Witt is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Effingham Health System in Springfield, Georgia. She is a Registered Nurse first. She has a MBA and is working on her doctorate in nursing. Mrs. Baker-Witt is also a Nursing Home Administrator.
Fran Baker-Witt served in key leadership roles at Grady Health System in Atlanta for 17 years. In January 2016 she joined Effingham Health System as the Chief Transformation Officer. Mrs. Baker-Witt was named Interim Chief Executive Officer at Effingham Health System in June 2016.
One comment on “Earl Rogers with Georgia Hospital Association and Fran Baker-Witt with Effingham Health System”
Earl Rogers and Fran Baker-Witt, this was an excellent delivery of what’s happening with GHA and CEO’s in healthcare today. Out of the gate, Mr. Rogers first nugget, “know the difference between Medicaid and Medicare” which most times equates to hospitals ‘being paid less than the cost of providing quality care”. Secondly, Georgia is a non-expansion state, in 2019 the associated legislation gives the state policy makers power to decide how to spend allocated state dollars. Lastly, healthcare is not a given line item in which Georgia Hospitals will automatically benefit. “We must wait to see the actions from the incoming policy makers.” Congratulations! Mrs. Baker-Witt for being a “nurse first”, and leader during the hurricane. I didn’t realize that Effingham was the only hospital open within the 100 miles radius (I must have been under a rock). Your spirit of transparency during the interview was palpable. Listening to your “Programmatic Optimization and Transformational” leadership style was inspirational, “Can we make this big”? You addressed alignment between the care providers (physicians), legislators and community to create synergy for a successful “integrated healthcare model”. This is a well balanced interview from both CEO’s around the provision of quality healthcare, leadership and legislation.