Baptist Memorial names two new vice presidents, promotes chief human resources officer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., - Baptist Memorial Health Care has recently promoted its chief human resources officer and named two new vice presidents to their senior leadership team.   The two new vice presidents will replace Scott Fountain, the organization’s senior vice president and chief development officer, who retired on July 2.

Nancy Averwater has assumed the role of Baptist Memorial’s senior vice president and chief human resources officer. In addition to maintaining her current duties, she will develop and implement the Baptist Center for Career Development. The center will help people accomplish their professional and career goals at Baptist through career counseling, career pathing and upskilling. Nancy began her Baptist career in 1993 and has served in several clinical and operational leadership positions before assuming her current role.

Robbie Johnson, a 10-year Baptist employee, has been promoted to vice president and chief development officer, where he leads Baptist Memorial’s fundraising activities systemwide. Before assuming this new role, Robbie was the executive director of the NEA Baptist Foundation in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he successfully oversaw and managed foundation funds, which helped support many needed programs and projects in that community.

Ayoka Pond now serves as Baptist Memorial’s vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. She leads the organization’s corporate communications department, which includes marketing, digital marketing, public relations, creative services and internal communications. She has spent her entire 22-year Baptist career in corporate communications, most recently as its public relations and internal communications director.

“We are so blessed to have such talented leaders in our organization,” said Jason Little, Baptist Memorial Health Care’s president and CEO. “They have worked tirelessly for decades to advance Baptist Memorial’s goals, mission and values and have done an amazing job in every role they have held. I am confident they will bring the same dedication, leadership and skill to their new positions.”

One of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health care systems, Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South and Central Mississippi. The Baptist system, which consistently ranks among the top integrated health care networks in the nation, comprises 22 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, Mississippi and East Arkansas; more than 4,500 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 750 providers; home, hospice and psychiatric care; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by Baptist Health Sciences University. The Baptist system employs more than 19,100 people, and in fiscal year 2019 contributed more than $336 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. The Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Memphis estimates that Baptist Memorial Health Care’s annual economic impact is more than $2.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org.