Northwest Health promotes Chris Blair to CEO of Bentonville hospital

Chris Blair is the new CEO of Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville. The hospital is an affiliate of Springdale-based Northwest Health.

Blair had been the hospital’s interim CEO since March 7 and the chief administrative officer of Siloam Springs Regional Hospital since April 2022.

Before joining Northwest Health, Blair held multiple leadership roles including director of business development at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas. He also led a 42-bed progressive care unit, a 20-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit and two multi-specialty outpatient clinics.

“Chris is a great choice to lead Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville,” said Robert Petrino, M.D., chair of the Northwest Medical Center Board. “His clinical background and extensive leadership experience will positively impact the care and services we provide.”

Blair began his career in the Navy, working many jobs from hospital corpsman to the director of business development. After five years in the Navy, he earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Excelsior College and an MBA from Texas Women’s University.

Northwest Health has five hospitals in Northwest Arkansas, comprising 487 beds, and a combined medical staff of more than 900 physicians and over 2,400 employees.