Cory Darling will become president and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside effective March 1, according to a Feb. 9 hospital news release.
Darling currently is president and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County. He led the hospital’s operational start-up when it opened in July 2022. During his tenure, Ascension said the hospital achieved year-over-year growth.
“Cory has a proven ability to lead with purpose and deliver results that matter for our patients and our community,” Scott Kashman, interim market lead of Ascension St. Vincent’s, said in the release.
“His experience strengthening operations at St. Johns County will help position Southside to continue growing as a vital resource for Jacksonville families.”
Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside is at 4201 Belfort Road in Jacksonville near Butler Boulevard and Interstate 95.
Darling has 18 years of hospital administration and operational leadership experience. He previously was COO at Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, Idaho. Those locations are part of HCA Healthcare.
Darling received a master’s in business administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and a bachelor’s in business administration from Belmont University.
Darling replaces Sean McAfee, interim president of Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside. McAfee also is chief nursing officer and chief operating officer at Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County.