Dean joined SGMC Health as the President and Chief Executive Officer in October of 2019. His range of responsibilities over his 40-year healthcare career include hospital operations, clinical service line development, external business development, physician practice acquisitions, long range planning, regional network development, affiliations, regulatory affairs and joint ventures.  

His prior experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of Troy Regional Medical Center and as Vice President of Operations at Southeast Alabama Medical Center Dothan, Alabama.

Originally from the Dothan, Alabama area, Dean obtained an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Wallace Community College. Then earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration from Troy (State) University, Dothan campus and the distinction of board certification in healthcare management as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.  

Dean is actively involved in the Georgia Hospital Association where he serves on the Health Care Insurance Resources, Inc. Board.  He also serves on the Vizient Southeast Board as the Executive Committee Secretary/Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee.  

Actively serving his community, Dean currently serves on the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Local Board, Valdosta Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce Board and is a member of the Valdosta Rotary Club. He and his wife, Sue Ellen Branton, are proud parents of Megan Dean of Birmingham, Alabama and Lauren Dean of Stuttgart, Germany.

Joseph “Randy” Smith is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SGMC Health.  

Smith’s career has included roles in acute care, as well as an independent consultant in emergency and critical care services. Smith worked previously for SGMC Health as Administrative Director of Emergency Services from 2007 to 2009, served as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer and interim CNO at Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville for a total of 3 years, and served as Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Tift Regional Health System in Tifton, Georgia.  

Smith received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA and a Master’s of Science in Nursing and Health Systems Management from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and is retired from the US Air Force. 

Smith has a grown son, Aaron and daughter, Kristin.

John Moore is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SGMC Health. Moore has more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance within various well-renowned health systems. Prior to SGMC Health, Moore served as the Hospital Chief Financial Officer at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and EVP/CFO of Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. 

Moore earned his Bachelor of Business Administration where he majored in accounting from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Moore also is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.

Moore has two children ages 14 and 13. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golf, hiking, bicycling and football.

Pankaj Agrawal, MD, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of SGMC Health. Dr. Agrawal has demonstrated a proven track record of leadership and innovation, serving as SGMC Health’s hospitalist program director from 2017-2024 and actively leading numerous process and quality improvement programs and medical staff committees. 

Dr. Agrawal received his medical degree from Dr. S.N. Medical College in Jodhpur, India in 2006. Following that, he dedicated approximately two years to research at UT Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Continuing his medical journey, he pursued Family Medicine Residency training at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, completing it in 2013.

Dr. Agrawal has been married to Dipti for more than 12 years and together they are proud parents to son Vihaan.

Johnny Ball is the Senior Vice President of Regional Hospital Operations of SGMC Health. Ball has been with SGMC Health for over 28 years, serving many leadership roles in a multitude of departments. 

Ball earned a Bachelor of Arts in Banking and Finance from Morehouse College. He received a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration from Georgia State University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.  

Ball is very active in the Valdosta community, and currently serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the 100 Black Men of Valdosta, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission, Valdosta Rotary Club, and the Wiregrass Nursing Advisory Committee.

Ball is married to Terri, and they have two children, Jay and Lauren.

Chuck Marshburn is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer and HIPAA Security Officer of SGMC Health. Marshburn has been with SGMC Health for nearly 27 years and previously served as Director of Information Services.

Marshburn holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in Management Information Systems. He earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Valdosta State University with a focus in Healthcare Administration. He also received a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.  Chuck is also a member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, Project Management Institute, and the Computing Technology Industry Association.

Marshburn is married to his wife Brooke, and together they have two children, Lauren and Luke.

Cherise Giddens is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of SGMC Health. Giddens has a wealth of experience with an impressive 37-year nursing career, all at SGMC Health. She most recently served as the Vice President of Clinical Nursing. Prior to that role, she served as Administrative Director of Nursing Services following her years as a staff nurse. 

Giddens earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing as well as an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Brenda Alexander is the Vice President of South Georgia Physician Network and Chief Human Resources Officer of SGMC Health. Alexander has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and organizational development within health systems, previously serving as the Regional Vice President for Human Resources at SSM Health in Southern Illinois.  

Alexander earned her Bachelors of Science in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College and her Masters of Science in Technology with a focus on Training and Development from Eastern Illinois University. She also received her Certificate in Work Performance Improvement and is a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management.

Alexander and her husband Jay have been married for 33 years and have two adult daughters and nine grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and gardening.

Hilary Gibbs is the Vice President and Chief Development Officer of SGMC Health. Gibbs has nearly 25 years of experience in development and fundraising, having served as Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Valdosta State University for nearly 20 years prior to joining SGMC Health. 

Gibbs earned her Bachelor of Business Administration where she majored in Marketing and a Masters in Education in Leadership from Valdosta State University. 

Gibbs is married to husband Andy and has two daughters Elizabeth Grace and Anna Clark.

Erika Bennett is the Vice President of Marketing and Brand Experience overseeing all aspects of SGMC Health’s marketing and brand experience strategy, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. She leads efforts to strengthen SGMC Health’s brand identity and enhance the overall experience for patients and stakeholders across the health system’s 4 hospital campuses and comprehensive network of primary care and specialty locations. She has more than a decade of experience in healthcare, communications,, and marketing.  

Bennett is a proud graduate of Valdosta State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Public Relations Society of America, and the Georgia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.  

She is married to her husband, Austin, and they have two sons, Bridges and Brody.