Leadership

Mr. Owens serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Upson Regional Medical Center. Prior to becoming the CEO at URMC, Mr. Owens served as the Chief Executive Officer of Emory University Hospital Midtown, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory University Hospital Smyrna for 9 years. He led overall operations of the 605-bed community-based and academic teaching hospital in Midtown Atlanta and the 88-bed community hospital in Cobb County. Mr. Owens guided the hospital to exceptional achievements in financial performance (increased net revenue by over $1B to $1.7B in net revenue), quality rankings (US News & World Report #4 hospital in Georgia out of 140 hospitals), and partnerships that contributed to overall admissions growth (26.8% growth). He also executed on ambitious capital projects in excess of over $600M (including the state-of-the-art Cancer hospital and clinics).

Prior to becoming CEO at Emory, he held the following positions at Emory over his 30 years of service, Vice President of Operations at Emory University Hospital Midtown, Director of Operations and Senior Administrator of Critical Care, Hospital Medicine and Primary Care, Corporate Controller for Emory Healthcare (system role) and Financial Administrator for the Woodruff Health Sciences Center (system role).

Mr. Owens is an active leader and member in numerous health care and community organizations locally and across the country. He has served in the following capacities:

• Chair of the Board of Trustees - Georgia Hospital Association (2022-2023)
• Board Member - Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals (Former)
• Executive Committee - Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals (Former)
• Member - Atlanta Rotary Club (Former)
• American College of Healthcare Executives - Member (Former)
• Healthcare Financial Management Association - Member (Former)• Board Member Midtown Alliance (Former)
• Board Member - Central Atlanta Progress (Former)
• Chairman - 340B Governance Committee (Former)
• American Heart Association - Heart Walk Executive Cabinet (Former)
• Church volunteer
• Youth sports coach

Mr. Owens is a Georgia native and holds degrees in Economics from Emory University, a Master of Business Administration from Brenau University, Harvard Business School- completed a nine-month intensive executive course in Managing Healthcare Delivery, and is a Fellow of the Robert W. Woodruff Leadership Academy.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, watching sports, playing golf, volunteering and traveling.

Suzanne has been an employee at Upson Regional Medical Center for almost fifty years. She began her career at URMC in 1979 as a nursing aide and has been a registered nurse (RN) at URMC since 1980. She is dedicated and fiercely loyal to both the hospital and community.

She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing at Gordon Junior College and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Georgia Southwestern College & State University. Suzanne went on to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgia College & State University.

Her nursing background includes ICU, Med-Surg, Quality Improvement and Risk Management.  She holds a certification in Risk Management, Patient Safety, and Compliance.

She has worked in multiple specialties and held several titles at URMC, including CNO and CQO. Suzanne holds many certifications and is currently directing Risk Management, Compliance, Credentialing, and Med Staff Services, including helping to oversee Patient Safety and Quality. It is with Suzanne’s oversight and guidance that URMC is able to maintain compliance with both Joint Commission and DNV standards.

When Suzanne is not serving at the hospital, she is spending time with her family and dogs, whom she loves dearly.

Chelsea Peterson began her healthcare career as a registered nurse after earning her BSN from LaGrange College and working in the Emergency Department at Upson Regional Medical Center. She later transitioned into hospice leadership and healthcare marketing.

She now serves as the Director of Growth & Strategy at Upson Regional Medical Center, where she combines her passion for healthcare and her hometown to help expand access to exceptional care in her community.

Born and raised in Thomaston, Chelsea is passionate about seeing her hometown flourish and ensuring families can receive top-notch healthcare close to home.

Outside of work, she enjoys thrifting, decorating, spending time outdoors, and making memories with her husband and two sons. Whether exploring her creative interests, enjoying the outdoors with her boys, or serving her community, Chelsea is passionate about helping others and making a meaningful difference in the place she calls home.