Trimble Promoted to HMA Group President

Health Management Associates, Inc. announced Wednesday it has promoted D. Melody Trimble to president of the company’s Southern and Western Group, which includes 26 hospitals in seven states. The promotion is effective Jan. 1.

Trimble is being promoted from her position as vice president and market CEO of HMA’s Sparks Health System and Summit Medical Center in Arkansas. She’s had that role since 2009.

Trimble will report to Gary D. Newsome, president and CEO of HMA, in her new role, according to a news release.

“Melody has been a successful leader throughout her career at Health Management, most recently by growing Sparks into the thriving health system it is today,” Newsome said in the release. “With her nursing background, she understands the vital role nurses play in working with physicians to provide high-quality care with a human touch to our patients, and now she can bring that perspective to a larger group of our hospitals.”

Trimble will replace Joe D. Pinion, who recently announced his retirement, effective at the end of the year. Pinion will be a consultant to HMA for a transitional period.

Through its subsidiaries, HMA operates 70 hospitals with approximately 10,500 licensed beds throughout the United States. As of mid-morning Wednesday, HMA shares were trading at $8.02, up from $7.92 at the end of trading on Tuesday. Shares have $4.81 to $8.69 over the past year.

Trimble announced her decision to physicians and hospital staff on Tuesday, according to a separate release.

“This community has been so welcoming and wonderful to me,” Trimble was quoted as saying in the release. “I am forever grateful. And I promise you, the forward momentum we have started here will not stop.”

Trimble is expected to help find her replacement before relocating to Naples, Fla.