RICHMOND, Va. (October 24, 2002) – Bon Secours Richmond has appointed Paula R. Autry as executive vice president/administrator of Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital.

Autry served most recently as senior vice president of Erlanger Health System, a non-profit hospital system (licensed for 811 beds) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prior to her seven years with Erlanger, she was the assistant administrator for the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile. 

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Autry holds a Master’s degree in business from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University in New Orleans and a Master’s in health administration from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

“Paula Autry possesses an impressive academic background and a successful track record of building strong relationships with physicians and improving and growing health care services in the facilities she has led,” said Peter J. Bernard, Chief Executive Officer, Bon Secours Richmond. “Richmond Community Hospital will be well served under her leadership. Autry is the right person to take Richmond Community Hospital’s commitment to providing quality care onsite and through extensive outreach programs to its constituents.”

 “Richmond Community Hospital has a rich, enduring history,” said Autry. “As we prepare to celebrate its hundredth anniversary, I am excited to be joining this wonderful team. Our challenge is to make sure Richmond Community Hospital continues to provide the best professional care to our patients while remaining true to the mission of Bon Secours.”

Richmond Community Hospital, recognized as a top performer for its Emergency Department services, is part of the Bon Secours Richmond Health System, the leading Catholic not-for-profit health care system in the Richmond area. St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center and Virginia HealthSource also comprise Bon Secours Richmond, along with numerous outpatient and diagnostic facilities, physician groups and a school of nursing. A fourth hospital, the 130-bed St. Francis Medical Center, is planned for construction in Chesterfield County. 

Recognized for a fourth consecutive year by Working Mother magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers,” Bon Secours Richmond Health System offers excellent childcare programs, flexible working hours, work/life benefits and career advancement opportunities. Bon Secours Health System, Inc. is a national Catholic health care system with a healing ministry that serves 15 communities in nine states throughout the eastern United States. Information on Bon Secours Richmond is available on the Internet at www.bonsecours.com.