Mickey W. Foster, MHA

Mickey W. Foster, MHA, is the chief executive officer (CEO) of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. FirstHealth is a comprehensive, not-for-profit health system serving 15 counties in the mid-Carolinas, headquartered in Pinehurst, North Carolina. With an annual net revenue exceeding $1.1 billion, FirstHealth has an AA category rating. FirstHealth consists of four hospitals with 546 licensed beds, an inpatient rehabilitation center, 25 primary care clinics, concierge medicine, nine convenient care clinics, specialty clinics, imaging centers, seven fitness centers, a hospitality house, a charitable foundation, hospice residence and home care services. FirstHealth also operates EMS/medical transport services in four area counties. The organization has more than 6,200 employees and nearly 450 volunteers. As CEO, Mr. Foster is responsible for directing the development and operation of the corporation in all activities in coordination with the policies adopted by the Board of Directors. Mr. Foster develops and coordinates the Corporation’s goals, objectives and strategic plans, and ensures that the core purpose of the Corporation, to care for people, is fulfilled.

Under Mr. Foster’s leadership, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, including its Richmond and Hoke campuses, has achieved national recognition for health care excellence, including being named to the 100 Top Hospitals list in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Since 2019, FirstHealth has achieved a 69% reduction in patient harm events; has grown net revenue by 49.6%; and maintained patient satisfaction in the top 10% of all hospitals nationwide. For 2024, FirstHealth was nationally recognized as a top 150 places to work in health care by Becker’s Healthcare. In 2024, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, including its Hoke and Richmond campuses, was named No. 8 “best hospital” ranking and No. 6 in the “patient picks” list by Business North Carolina magazine. Moore Regional ranked in the top 6 hospitals in the state for U.S. News & World Report’s best hospitals edition for 2023. FirstHealth has received numerous awards for clinical excellence in multiple specialties and for overall clinical performance and patient safety from Healthgrades. In 2024, FirstHealth Moore Regional received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award for the 17th consecutive year, placing the hospital in the top 5% of all hospitals nationwide.

Experience: Prior to joining FirstHealth, Mr. Foster was president of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, and senior vice president for Cone Health from 2014 to 2019. Prior to his role at Moses Cone Hospital, Foster served as president of Cone Health’s Annie Penn Hospital and senior vice president of hospital operations from 2010 to 2014. Before joining Cone Health, Foster served as vice president/chief operating officer at Maria Parham Medical Center, a 102-bed hospital in Henderson, North Carolina, from 2007 to 2010. From 2002 to 2007, Foster was administrative director at Duke Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. Foster served as director at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro, North Carolina from 1997 to 2002, and coordinator of corporate services at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst from 1994 to 1997.

Education: Mr. Foster earned his Bachelor of Science in Community Health from East Carolina University in 1994, where he received the Outstanding Senior Award. He earned a Master of Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University in 2000.

Professional/Community Activities: Mr. Foster is actively involved in civic leadership roles. He serves on the Moore County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors and the North Carolina Healthcare Association Board of Trustees, the NCHA Compensation Committee and the NCHA Bylaws Committee and the NCHA Finance Committee. He is a member of the ECU Pirate Club Executive Committee and ECU Educational Foundation – Pirate Club. Mr. Foster has served on the ECU Board of Visitors, the Board for the Guilford Technical Community College Foundation, the Board for the Rockingham YMCA, Rockingham County Health Alliance, Rockingham County Hospice and Rockingham Wells Fargo. Mr. Foster is a member of American College of Health Care Executives. He is the recipient of the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, Triad Business Journal Top 40 Leaders under 40 and Triad Business Journal Most Influential Leader Award. He was also named to Business North Carolina Magazine's Power List for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and recognized as one of the Triangle Business Journal's 2022 class of CEO & C-Suite Award winners. In 2023, he was recognized by Becker's Hospital Review on its annual list of Community Hospital CEOs to know.