Columbia News

Benjamin (Ben) D. Hughes has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Moberly Regional Medical Center (MRMC), effective June 2, 2025. Hughes expressed his eagerness for the role, stating, "I'm looking forward to becoming part of the Moberly community and helping to continue the great work that happens every day at Moberly Regional Medical Center."

Hughes transitions from his position as Chief Operations Officer at East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC) in Statesboro, Georgia, a role he has held since September 2023. Hughes brings with him over ten years of experience in healthcare operations, focusing on executive leadership, quality and patient safety, and service line expansion. At EGRMC, he was the executive lead for various services, including surgical and cardiovascular services, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, and pain management. Additionally, he managed a $12 million operating room expansion and introduced new surgical services software for scheduling and data analysis.

Prior to his tenure at EGRMC, Hughes served as Assistant Chief Operations Officer at Tulane Health System in New Orleans. He led the Lakeside Hospital campus, a 123 licensed-bed acute care facility, and contributed to its consistently excellent patient safety standards, achieving eight consecutive "A" Leapfrog Safety Grades. His other positions at Tulane included Vice President of Orthopedics and Surgical Services, Directory of Ambulatory Clinics, and Practice Manager for the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine. Before his healthcare career, Hughes held a corporate marketing director role in Paducah, Kentucky.

Jerry Jeffrey, MRMC board of trustees chair, remarked, "We are pleased to welcome Ben to Moberly Regional Medical Center as CEO. The combination of his diverse operational experience, his background in quality standards, and overall service line expansion will benefit the services offered locally at MRMC."