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APRIL/MAY 2015 MACON MAGAZINE | 23 ADVERTISING | Women IN BUSINESS Dr. Ninfa Saunders President and CEO Navicent Health 777 Hemlock St. | Macon, GA 31201 478.633.1000 Dr. Saunders currently ser ves as the President & CEO of Navicent Health. Among Becker 's Hospital Review 's "130 Women Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know " in both 2014 and 2013, Dr. Saunders was chosen as the 2014 CEO of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. She was included on Georgia Trend's 2015 listing of "100 Most Influential Georgians" and honored by The (Macon) Telegraph as the "2014 Person of the Year." The Georgia Diversity Council also selected Dr. Saunders as one of Georgia's "Most Power ful & Influential Women" of 2013. Dr. Saunders currently ser ves as an Executive with the Fierce Healthcare CEO Advisor y Board and as a frequent exper t for Becker 's Hospital Review and Healthcare Leaders national media roundtables. The vice- chair for the American Hospital Association's Institute for Diversity, Dr. Saunders ser ves in leadership roles locally focused on economic development and community engagement and was the 2014 Modern Healthcare's Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference keynote speaker. What are some challenges facing Navicent Health? The changing healthcare landscape has provided numerous challenges, but Navicent Health is meeting those challenges in innovative ways, and setting the standard for health systems and hospitals across the U.S. With our physician partners and in Stratus Healthcare partners, along with our rural and critical access partners, we are creating a delivery model that will not only benefit patients through better outcomes and care close to home, but will also benefit patients, providers and payors through better efficiency and value. As we say, everything about us is all about you! Although the work sometimes seems endless, we are excited about what the future holds for Navicent Health. What is one of the most important healthcare issues in Central Georgia? Each year, one in three women die of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the leading killer of women in this country, and many people still don't understand that heart disease is not just a man's disease. A special mission of mine is to change this and educate women about heart disease and stroke and how to take better care of themselves. That 's why I am a strong supporter of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women national campaign. Its goal is to increase awareness of heart disease and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health. I have agreed to be the inaugural Chair of the local Go Red for Women campaign because I feel it is one of the greatest healthcare issues facing us and it affects everyone. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment as a woman in a business? My parents always instructed me to leave a place better than I found it. I follow in the footsteps of two wonderful CEOs, Don Faulk and Damon King. They laid the foundation for me to build on. I hope that I can build upon their individual and collective legacy and lay a compelling foundation for those who come after me. I hope that I will leave healthcare in general better than I found it, and I hope that my successes will inspire other women to pursue executive and leadership positions.