UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton has named Mark Pittman as the new chief human resources officer and vice president of Human Resources.

Pittman, originally from Cramerton, began his healthcare human resources career at Vidant Health in Greenville, N.C., where he served as the administrator of the Total Rewards program and the manager of compensation and benefits for 13 years.

“I am excited about joining Blue Ridge and having the opportunity to return to North Carolina, especially this region,” Pittman said.

Blue Ridge President and CEO Kathy Bailey said she looks forward to Pittman joining the senior leader team. “Several of his references referred to Mark as a servant-leader who lives his values,” Bailey said. “They also told me that Mark is innovative in his strategic direction for HR, moving it to a more contemporary model. This is exactly what we need for the large workforce we have.”

Pittman most recently worked for Hamilton Healthcare System in Dalton, Georgia, a nonprofit regional health care organization serving the northwest Georgia and southeast Tennessee region. He also served as the vice president of human resources at North Mississippi Health Services for four years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Belmont Abbey College and completed graduate-level course work from East Carolina University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Society for Human Resources Management, and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration.

UNC Health Blue Ridge (www.unchealthblueridge.org) is a not-for-profit community healthcare system providing advanced healthcare and wellness services from more than 40 locations across a three-county region of Western North Carolina.

The system includes one hospital with two locations, a wellness center, and a continuing care retirement community.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: New UNC Health Blue Ridge VP has Cramerton ties