Harkleroad most recently served as CEO of Riverview Regional Medical Center and Trousdale Medical Center, both of which are part of a four-hospital regional healthcare system in Tennessee that is part of LifePoint Health. 

He replaces Harold Siglar, who has served as interim CEO of HRMC since April, when former CEO Phillip Wright abruptly resigned.

“We are excited to welcome Rod to the Haywood Regional family and know that under his leadership we will be able to advance our mission of ‘Making Communities Healthier,’” said James Carter, chief operating officer of Duke LifePoint Health’s Eastern Group, which includes HRMC. “Rod has extensive knowledge and experience leading hospitals, and his commitment to delivering high-quality care close to home will help guide the hospital as it continues to explore ways to enhance patient care.”

Harkleroad is a seasoned healthcare administrator with a background in nursing. During his time with RRMC, Harkleroad led the hospital to earn designation as a Duke LifePoint Quality Affiliate through LifePoint’s National Quality Program. Riverview became the second facility within LifePoint Health to achieve this designation, which recognizes hospitals within LifePoint that have succeeded in transforming their culture of safety and achieved high standards of quality care, performance improvement and patient engagement.

Prior to his role as CEO, Harkleroad served in a number of leadership roles within RRMC and other LifePoint Health facilities, including administrator of RRMC and associate chief nursing officer of Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tennessee. Harkleroad began his career in healthcare as a registered nurse.

He has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and a master’s of management in health care from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management in Nashville. 

Harkleroad and his wife, Mindy, and three sons, Austin, Sam and Alex, will live in Haywood County.

Haywood Regional Medical Center is a 169-bed full-service hospital. www.myhaywoodregional.com.