Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHA) announced Friday that Chris Griffin was named the chief executive officer, and Debbie Rowell as chairman of the authority.

This announcement comes in the midst of recent reorganization of ECHA’s health system. Griffin will have overall responsibility for all of the authority’s operating entities, including Atmore Community Hospital and its clinics and home health agency; D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital and its clinics, EMS and home medical equipment.

Griffin has been a part of the ECHA since 2003, serving as chief financial officer and chief operating officer of D.W. McMillan, and was named the hospital’s administrator in July 2008.

Griffin’s appointment as ECHA’s CEO leaves a vacancy for the administrator’s position at D.W. McMillan. A new administrator will be named in the near future, according to a release.

Additionally, the election of officers for the ECHA board was held at its recent meeting on March 28. Rowell was elected as chairman, replacing Ruth Harrell, who will remain on the board; Sharon Davidson was elected as vice chairman, replacing Rowell; and Nancy Lowrey was elected as treasurer, replacing Don Ward. Ward will also continue to serve on the board.

Rowell has been serving on the board since 2013. She resides in Atmore, where she is a real estate broker and owner of Southern Real Estate.

The ECHA is comprised of local, county, city and community leaders appointed by the Escambia County Commission. Each member serves on the board as a volunteer and is responsible for governing all healthcare systems in Escambia County, Ala.