Mary Washington Healthcare President and CEO Fred Rankin to Retire

Mary Washington Healthcare President and Chief Executive Officer Fred M. Rankin, III, will retire Dec. 31, 2014, after guiding the Fredericksburg region health system through two decades of growth and advances in patient treatment, services, and technology.

During Rankin’s tenure, Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) added open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, trauma care, the latest cancer treatments, neonatal intensive care, a new, 100-bed hospital in Stafford County, and more.

“We’ve been blessed to have a great leader like Fred for a long time,” said John F. Fick, III, chairman of the MWHC Board of Trustees. “As a direct result of Fred’s leadership, we’ve remained ever committed to a noble mission, providing excellent healthcare for the citizens of our region regardless of ability to pay."

The MWHC Board of Trustees has formed a search committee to work with an executive search firm in identifying and screening CEO candidates from across the country. The search team is seeking input from MWHC Associates, physicians and community leaders about the desired qualifications and characteristics for the next CEO. 

The board expects to announce a new CEO later this year.

“Fred will remain the CEO throughout all of 2014, and we’re appreciative that he’s given us plenty of time to make a great decision about our next leader,” Fick said.

Rankin joined Mary Washington Healthcare as president of Mary Washington Hospital in 1992. He was promoted in 1995 to president and chief executive officer of the not-for-profit MWHC regional system of healthcare facilities and wellness centers, which now includes Stafford Hospital as well as the 437-bed Mary Washington Hospital.

Rankin has been active in a host of community organizations, and currently serves, or has served, on the boards of the Rappahannock Area United Way, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, Micah Ecumenical Ministries, Fredericksburg Regional Alliance and Rappahannock Goodwill Industries.

Rankin has also served as board chairman for the Central Atlantic Region of VHA, Inc., a healthcare provider alliance, and as board chairman for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Rankin received his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1973 and his Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh in 1978.

He began his career at the Forbes Health System in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he rose to assistant administrator at Forbes Regional Health Center.  He was named associate vice president of Allegheny General Hospital, in Pittsburgh, later rising to vice president and then senior vice president.

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