Dr. Gandhari Loomis named associate chief medical officer

UNC Health Blue Ridge has named Dr. Gandhari Loomis associate chief medical officer, effective May 1.

In the new role, Loomis will report to the chief medical officer and provide systemwide oversight for quality and patient safety, according to UNC Health Blue Ridge.

Loomis joined UNC Health Blue Ridge in 2010 and has served in several physician leadership roles. Most recently, she was executive medical director of Blue Ridge Medical Group, where she supported more than 140 physicians and advanced practice providers across primary care and specialty practices in Burke, McDowell and Caldwell counties.

As associate chief medical officer, Loomis will lead and align quality initiatives across the health system, focusing on patient safety, clinical outcomes, regulatory readiness and continuous performance improvement.

“I am honored to step into this role and continue serving our patients, physicians, APP’s, and communities in a broader capacity,” Loomis said. “Quality and safety are foundational to everything we do in health care and touch every department in the organization. I look forward to partnering with our clinical and operational teams to strengthen processes, improve outcomes, and support our new mission. My expectation is the delivery of clinical excellence to every patient, in every setting, every time.”

Loomis’ work will support the organization’s mission — “Your Health: our priority, our passion, our privilege” — by ensuring clinical decisions and quality initiatives reflect a commitment to patients and the communities the health system serves.

“Dr. Loomis is a respected physician leader with a deep understanding of both patient care and system operations,” said Dr. Anthony Frank, chief medical officer of UNC Health Blue Ridge. “Her leadership, credibility with clinicians, and commitment to quality make her well suited for this role, and we are excited to have her help lead our system-wide quality efforts.”

UNC Health Blue Ridge said the appointment reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care while serving the region.

— AKC