Steven E. Eblin has been named the next CEO of Randolph Hospital in Asheboro, effective March 1.

He succeeds Robert E. Morrison, who announced his retirement in October 2011.

"I am pleased to announce the decision of the board of directors to name Steve Eblin as CEO of Randolph Hospital," said Samuel D. Cranford Jr., chairman of the hospital's board of directors. "He is an extraordinary individual who has served this hospital well for more than 18 years. I am confident he will continue to do so for many years to come."

Eblin has been the vice president of corporate planning and development with Randolph Hospital since 1993. During that time, he has overseen a variety of functions on behalf of the hospital, including leading five strategic planning processes which have led to improved quality and development of several new services, a news release said.

He has also had responsibility for physician recruitment, increasing the medical staff from 41 to 199, the creation of Randolph Medical Associates and Randolph Specialty Group, public relations and facility development, including the construction of a new emergency department and rehabilitation department.

"Steve has been an integral part of an excellent management team which has guided the hospital through unprecedented expansion of services and recognition as one of the best community hospitals in the state," Cranford said. "In his new role as CEO, I feel certain that even in these uncertain times, he is the right person to lead Randolph Hospital in a way that will enable the hospital to continue to deliver health care services to the citizens of Randolph and surrounding counties. His honesty and integrity, his work ethic, and his desire to seek out all options and opinions have gained him the respect of the medical community, as well as the hospital family and the communities the hospital serves."

"I'm honored and humbled by the board's decision," Eblin said. "While I'm obviously very familiar with the hospital and the communities we serve, this is a new role for me, and health care is changing faster than it ever has.

"I look forward to working with a great team as we navigate our way through those changes. That team includes our board, my fellow employees, physicians, volunteers, other health care providers and the community as a whole. We'll work together to improve quality, accessibility, and our patients' experience each and every day."

Eblin has a bachelor's degree in hospital administration from the University of Kentucky and a master's degree in business administration from Xavier University. He and his wife, Rhonda, are natives of Huntington, W. Va. They moved to Asheboro in 1993, after spending five years in Ohio.

Eblin was chosen as CEO through a process in which a succession committee of the board of directors reviewed applications from across the country, determined who would be interviewed,and conducted the interview process.

"I want to thank the members of the succession committee for the extraordinary amount of time they spent and the thoroughness with which they reviewed and evaluated the large number of excellent candidates who submitted applications for the position," Cranford said.

Glenn 'Mac' Pugh, who chaired the committee, said, "After reviewing over 140 applicants for the CEO position, the succession committee interviewed five outstanding candidates. Steve was one of those five. He received a unanimous recommendation to the board from our committee, as well as tremendous support from physicians, hospital staff, and community leaders.

"During the 18 years that Steve has served Randolph Hospital, he has been a strong advocate for both our hospital and our community. With his qualifications and community support, our committee was very pleased to recommend Steve as the next CEO at Randolph Hospital."