Manning native becomes CEO of N.C. hospital

Photo Provided Michael J. Davis, now CEO of Sandhills Regional Medical Center, said Manning was a great place to grow up.

By BELTON WHITE
Item Staff Writer
bwhite@theitem.com

A Manning native was recently named the chief executive officer of Sandhills Regional Medical Center in Hamlet, N.C.

Michael J. Davis, 34, started working for the hospital on Oct. 5 after serving as assistant CEO and chief operating officer at Mary Black Health System in Spartanburg.

Davis graduated from Manning High School in 1993 and was awarded a football scholarship to play for Furman University, graduating in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science.

After his roommate at Furman told him about a hospital administration internship he did, Davis became interested in a career in health care.

"We talked in detail about his experience, and he felt like it wasn't something for him: project work, going to meetings, develop and creating strategies," he said. "And I felt those things were geared toward me, so I researched some internships and found one for minorities in health care administration."

Following his graduation from Furman, Davis took a break from his own schooling to teach physical education and coach football at a middle school in the Greenville County School District.

"I enjoyed working with kids. I had been involved in community service projects, and I really enjoyed working with kids," he said. "So I decided to get a job teaching and coaching, because that was something I wanted to try at some point in my life."

For graduate school, Davis attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and received a master's degree in health administration. Since then, Davis worked in a number of hospitals before he began working for the health system in Spartanburg.

Though he was a little apprehensive about moving to a new company, Davis said the chance to fulfill his dream of being a hospital CEO helped him make the decision to take the job.

"It was hard in the way of leaving a company, as I had been with them for four-and-a-half years and had built up and a lot of relationships in the company," he said. "Though I had done well and developed a career there, when you are offered (a CEO position), it's a hard decision to pass that up."

Davis said he, his wife, Shayla, and their 7-month-old daughter try to visit Manning as often as possible because his mother, Ada McKinney, still lives there.

"My mom was certainly a key support for myself and for my entire family. She's always been there and continues to be there for me," he said. "I owe her a tremendous amount for making me the person that I am today."

The Manning community and Antioch Baptist Church in Jordan also helped Davis become the person he is today.

"When you reflect back, it was a very good place to grow up for me. It really gave me a solid foundation of morals and values that I carry to this day," he said. "I was raised in a Christian home, we were made to go to church, and I think I was also raised with the thought that everyone should be treated with respect."



Contact Staff Writer Belton White at bwhite@theitem.com or (803) 774-1295.