Dr. Karen "Bobbi" Carbone Named First Female President of Wake Forest Baptist Health

June 24, 2014

At its most recent quarterly meeting, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s board of directors approved a change in title to reflect the scope of accountabilities for Karen Barbara "Bobbi" Carbone, M.D., M.B.A.

Carbone’s new title is President and Chief Operating Officer, Wake Forest Baptist Health. She is the first woman to be named president of the institution. Prior to the title change, Carbone was executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“Dr. Carbone brings a unique range of experience to our institution,” said John D. McConnell, M.D., CEO, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “She is a tremendous asset to our leadership team, and this title change to president of our clinical enterprise more accurately recognizes that expertise.”

Carbone joined Wake Forest Baptist on March 1 when she succeeded Thomas E. Sibert, M.D., president and chief operating officer, Wake Forest Baptist Health, who earlier this year announced his planned retirement effective Aug. 31. Sibert continues to serve as interim chair of psychiatry and special advisor to McConnell regarding Medicaid and health care reform strategies until then.

As the administrative head of Wake Forest Baptist’s clinical enterprises, Carbone’s responsibilities include oversight of care delivery and coordination, patient-related business systems and faculty and staff alignment at all locations.

Prior to joining Wake Forest Baptist, Carbone worked in the United Arab Emirates for more than two years as deputy chief of clinical affairs then chief operating officer, clinical operations, at Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA), an independent company that manages and develops the clinical activities at the Emirate’s 12 public hospitals and more than 60 other care facilities. While there she was instrumental in developing an integrated delivery system of primary care and service rationalization of complex procedures and working closely with SEHA’s affiliations with Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic. 

In 2011, she was listed among the “Top 52 Women Hospital and HealthCare Leaders” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Media Relations

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

Paula Faria: pfaria@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1279