PINEHURST — The FirstHealth of the Carolinas Board of Directors has selected Mickey W. Foster as the health system’s new chief executive officer.
Foster, 47, is currently the president of Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital and senior vice president for Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina, a position he has held since 2014. He has more than 25 years of healthcare executive experience including leadership roles in community hospitals, academic medical centers and multi-hospital systems. Prior to his current position, Foster served Cone Health as president of Annie Penn Hospital (Reidsville) and senior vice president of Hospital Operations. This role included responsibility for the operations of a behavioral health hospital and the Cone Health Cancer Center in addition to Annie Penn. Prior experience also includes executive positions with Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson, North Carolina and Duke Raleigh Hospital.
“We were able to attract top-notch candidates from across the country but we found our new leader right here in North Carolina,” said Carolyn Helms, chair of the FirstHealth Board of Directors. “His proven track record and extensive experience made him the ideal candidate to lead an integrated and complex health system such as FirstHealth of the Carolinas.”
According to Helms, Foster will join FirstHealth on July 8, succeeding current CEO David J. Kilarski who announced in October 2018 his plans to retire this summer. Kilarski has served as the CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas and the President of Moore Regional Hospital since 2011.
“I offer my thanks to the members of the Search Committee and the Board of Directors for their time, energy and expertise in selecting a new CEO,” added Helms. “Their dedication to FirstHealth is unmatched and greatly appreciated.”
A Sanford, North Carolina native, Foster earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He earned a Master of Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
“I’m honored and humbled to be FirstHealth’s next CEO,” said Foster. “I thank the members of the FirstHealth Board for their confidence in me and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of FirstHealth. I also thank the leadership and staff of Cone Health for the opportunities they provided me during my career with them.
“I will always remember the lessons they taught me about leadership and commitment to serving our patients and communities.”
Foster, his wife, Tammy, and their daughter, Ally, are excited about relocating to the Sandhills.
