Lexington Medical Center President Accepts New Position at Johns Hopkins Medicine

December 9, 2013

Steve Snelgrove, president of Wake Forest Baptist Health-Lexington Medical Center, has accepted a new appointment as president of one of Johns Hopkins Medicine's hospitals.

Snelgrove will begin his leadership position at Howard County General Hospital on February 4, 2014. Howard County Hospital, located in Columbia, Md., is licensed for 253 beds, has more than 1,700 full-time and part-time employees and nearly 900 physicians and allied health professionals.

“This is a wonderful career opportunity,” said Snelgrove. “Johns Hopkins Medicine is recognized as one of the leading health care systems in the world.”

“Leaving Lexington Medical Center and the Wake Forest Baptist system is difficult after 25 years,” he added. “I’ll treasure the relationships developed from being a part of the Triad.”

Snelgrove came to Lexington Medical Center in 2011 as chief operating officer and was promoted to president in July, 2012. He joined Wake Forest Baptist Health in 1989 and was vice president of medicine and operations when he came to Lexington.

Under his leadership, Lexington Medical Center has strengthened its financial position, recruited seven physicians and enhanced relations with the medical staff, improved patient satisfaction and employee engagement, helped to launch a faith-health initiative with congregations in the community and expanded the emergency and rehabilitation services departments.

Snelgrove is active in the Lexington community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Davidson County Community College Foundation Board and the advisory committee of the Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy. He is a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club. He was this year’s chair of the Regional Heart and Stroke fundraising campaign for the American Heart Association.

In his years in Winston-Salem, Snelgrove was Chairman of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, past chairman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Planning Board, a member of the Board of Directors of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Forsyth County.

“Steve is an outstanding leader in the healthcare profession and in his community,” said Thomas E. Sibert, MD, MBA, president of Wake Forest Baptist Health. “He leaves Lexington Medical Center in a stronger position and with a bright future. We are very proud of him.”

“His advancement up the career ladder is a testament to Lexington, which was his first opportunity to be hospital president,” Sibert added. “His strong performance at Lexington has benefitted him in gaining this new opportunity with Johns Hopkins. This is an important accolade for Lexington Medical Center as well. Lexington’s progress in recent years and overall stature was significant enough that Johns Hopkins Medicine identified Steve to head one of its many important hospitals.”

Sibert said an announcement about an interim replacement for Snelgrove will be made soon. Meanwhile, a search will begin immediately for a permanent president.

Snelgrove received his BS degree from the University of Connecticut and his MBA from the University of Hartford. He and his wife, Joyce, are parents of a son, Scott, a student at Virginia Tech.

Media Relations

Mac Ingraham: mingraha@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-3487

Kathy Sushereba: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587