Long-time Atrium Health executive plans to leave hospital system

Atrium Health said Chief of Staff Debra Plousha Moore plans to retire at the end of June, after nearly a decade with the Charlotte-based hospital system.

The company said Plousha Moore's chief human resources officer duties will be filled by Jim Dunn, who was hired this year and began work April 16. Atrium said Dunn, who reports directly to CEO Gene Woods, is not taking over Plousha Moore's chief of staff role. The system said it did not have additional details on that post.

Plousha Moore is one of six women on the system's 13-member top-leadership team, a group that includes Woods. She is also one of the nonprofit's highest-paid executives, receiving 2017 compensation of $1.75 million.

She began at Atrium, at the time known as Carolinas HealthCare System, in 2008 as head of human resources and was promoted to executive vice president and chief human resources officer in 2013. In 2016, she was promoted to chief of staff, a job Woods created after he took over the system that year from former CEO Michael Tarwater.

In a staff memo Monday, Woods called Plousha Moore a catalyst and leader of positive change for Atrium. He also cited recognition Atrium has received for its workplace culture from Forbes, the American Heart Association and others as among accomplishments under her leadership.

"Debra has passionately formed our organization into a top place to work — not just in this region, but also one of the best in the country," Woods said. "I have always been impressed by her devotion and ability to make things happen in a unique way that's both effective and compassionate."

After retiring, Plousha Moore will move from Charlotte, where she's lived since joining Atrium, back to her native San Francisco, the system said.

In Charlotte, Plousha Moore has served on various boards, including for the Charlotte Chamber, Duke Mansion, North Carolina Military Business and Education, TreesCharlotte, Bennett College for Women and Fifth Third Bank.

In 2015, she was named Queens University of Charlotte's BusinessWoman of the Year. Last year, the Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council awarded her a Lifetime Achievement award.

Also last year, Plousha Moore co-chaired a campaign in support of a referendum to authorize $922 million in bonds for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the largest bond referendum ever put before Mecklenburg County voters. It passed.

This story was originally published April 30, 2018 at 11:38 AM with the headline "Long-time Atrium Health executive plans to leave hospital system."