Our Leadership Speaks

Our Leadership

David L. Bernd, chief executive officer, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA

David is chief executive officer of Sentara Healthcare, an integrated health system with net revenues of $2.5 billion. Under David’s leadership, Sentara has received numerous awards. It was ranked the number one integrated healthcare network in the United States in 2001 by Modern Healthcare magazine and is the only healthcare system to be named in the top 10 for nine years. In 2006, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital was among the 59 top hospitals in the nation, based on the Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey. He served his residency at Medical Center Hospitals from 1972-1973 and was assistant administrator at Sentara Norfolk General from 1973 to 1979 when he was named administrator. In 1985 David was named executive vice president/chief operating officer of Sentara Health System and president, Sentara Hospitals-Norfolk. In December 1994, he was named president and chief executive officer of Sentara Health System (now Sentara Healthcare). Most recently, David was named by the Secretary of Commerce to serve as a member of the Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Economy Advisory Committee to the Department of Commerce. In 2004 he served as chairman of the American Hospital Association board of trustees, making him the top elected official of the largest hospital and health system association in the United States. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the board of trustees of Virginia Wesleyan. He has served on the VHA, Inc. board of directors, South Trust Bank board of directors, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce regional board, and as chairman of the Hampton Roads YMCAs. He is past chairman of the United Way of South Hampton Roads board of directors and the Virginia Hospital Association board of directors. David was the 1984 recipient of the American College of Hospital Administrators’ Robert S. Hudgens National Young Hospital Administrator of the Year award. David received his Master of Hospital  and Health Administration from the Medical College of Virginia in 1973.

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