Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) has appointed Dr. Christopher Newman, MD, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr. Newman, who has been with MWHC since 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, takes over following the departure of Dr. Michael McDermott, who served as CEO since 2015.
McDermott announced his resignation in December 2024 to become the President and CEO of Montage Health, a healthcare system based in Monterey, California. McDermott expanded services during his tenure at MWHC, strengthened the system’s financial position, and advanced its reputation as a leading healthcare provider in the region, according to a press release.
Newman steps into the role with a strong background in hospital operations and clinical leadership. Before joining MWHC, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for Penn State Health St. Joseph Regional Health Network and was key in leading operations for Penn State Health’s Medical Group. He earned his medical degree from Georgetown University and completed his internal medicine residency at Georgetown University Medical Center. Additionally, he holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
“I am truly honored to have been chosen as CEO, and I remain dedicated to advancing our mission of enhancing the health of individuals in our communities,” Dr. Newman said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the progress we’ve made and furthering our goal of making Mary Washington Healthcare the leading health system for our providers, team members, patients, and the entire community.”
Mary Washington Healthcare is a non-profit regional health system that operates two hospitals, Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and Stafford Hospital in Stafford County, along with multiple outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, and medical practices.
