Damien Scott, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, Elected to Georgia Hospital Association Board of Trustees
Emanuel Medical Center Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien Scott, PT, MBA, MS, FACHE, was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), as announced at the association’s Annual Meeting of the Assembly on July 11. Scott will serve as an At-Large Trustee, where his duties will include working with the Board to develop strategies for GHA hospital members, advocating for the highest quality care for patients, and supporting adequate reimbursement for hospitals.
Scott has 28 years of experience in healthcare, including teaching, physical therapy, and administration. He has served in his current role since November 2014 and oversees the operations of Emanuel Medical Center, a Level IV Trauma-designated facility. Under his leadership, the hospital has achieved significant growth, including the opening of two new primary care clinics, the establishment of tele-nephrology, and tele-critical care programs, a $2 million geriatric psychiatric renovation, and most recently, a $2.4 million emergency department renovation.
Leading up to his role as CEO, Scott was the Director of Rehabilitation and Wellness and Director of the swing bed program at Candler County Hospital in Metter from 2002-2013. He was then named Chief Operating Officer and served in this role for a short time before being named CEO in February 2014.
“Damien Scott has extensive healthcare experience and deeply understands the healthcare needs of rural communities,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “He is dedicated to meeting these needs and ensuring additional access to care. His experience will serve our Board well, and we look forward to his service.”
Scott currently serves on the Georgia Trauma Administrators Committee and the Georgia Southern University School of Public Health MHA program Advisory Board. He is a past president of the Exchange Club of Swainsboro and the Rotary Club of Metter. He is a past Board member of the Emanuel County and Candler County Chambers of Commerce and served as an Advisory Board member to the State Office of Rural Health. Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, a Master of Science in biology, and a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
About GHA
Founded in 1929, GHA serves more than 150 hospitals in Georgia and promotes the health and welfare of the public through the development of better hospital care for all Georgia’s citizens. The mission of GHA is to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all Georgia hospitals and healthcare systems. GHA represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association. For more information, please call 770-249-4500 or visit gha.org.
About Emanuel Medical Center
Emanuel Medical Center serves Emanuel County and surrounding communities with compassionate, high-quality care. EMC offers inpatient services including Med-Surg, ICU, and Senior Behavioral Health, and operates a Level IV trauma-designated Emergency Department, surgery department, skilled nursing facility (Emanuel County Nursing Home), infusion clinic, wound care clinic, Prompt Care, and five community clinics. Nationally recognized for excellence, EMC earned CMS 5-Star Quality Ratings in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and 4-Star Ratings in 2021 and 2024. Georgia Trend named EMC Georgia’s #1 Medium Hospital in 2020 and #2 Small Hospital in 2021, 2023, and 2024. CEO Damien Scott was named 2022 Hospital Leader of the Year by HomeTown Health.
