Making Rounds
Hoke Healthcare welcomes new leadership
As the new President of Hoke Healthcare, Sonja McLendon brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. McLendon, who is originally from Wake Forest, joined Cape Fear Valley in her new position in July.
Before coming to Hoke Healthcare, McLendon spent 11 years as the Chief of Operational Excellence at Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, Ga. She has also served as the Interim President of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Barrow and NGMC Lumpkin campuses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina, a master’s degree in education and sports medicine from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.
McLendon made the decision to return to North Carolina after her mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and required aggressive treatment.
“We realized as a family that we needed to be closer to her to help her through this journey,” she said. “It was important to me to be with her as she was undergoing treatment. It was such a gift to be able to have this time with my mom when she needed me most, to be able to drive her to appointments, cook her meals, clean her home, run errands, and spend time with her as she navigated this new phase of her cancer journey.”
Being on the other end of the healthcare relationship also taught her more about patient care.
“I’ve been in healthcare administration for a lot of years, but I hadn’t really been on the patient side in this way,” she said. “At the same time I was learning more about North Carolina’s health systems. I was really interested in joining a healthcare system that was focused on community medicine, rural healthcare, and patient-centered care.”
McLendon was also looking for a place that was sharply focused on safety and high quality care, and on furthering education for graduates in our state who desire to be medical professionals. She found all that and more at Cape Fear Valley Health.
“I couldn’t believe how closely our values were aligned,” she said. “To discover a healthcare system that is so focused first on exceptional care for patients, and bringing care close to where patients live and work, along with their existing residency programs and the commitment to bringing a medical school to southeastern North Carolina, was so exciting to me. Having a chance to lead one of the hospitals in the system was a wonderful opportunity, so it was kind of a marriage made in heaven.”
McLendon and her husband, Scott, are living in downtown Raeford, just off Main Street. She said they’re loving a return to small town life in Hoke County.
“I’m a small town girl who’s lived all over the country, but like James Taylor, I have always thought, ‘In my mind I’m going to Carolina.’ I grew up in a tight-knit town much like Raeford, and we have had a wonderful time getting to know this community. Neighbors stop by to introduce themselves, area businesses actively support and promote one another, and there is active engagement in local activities that promote education, healthy lifestyles, and economic development. Hoke County isn’t just where I work, it’s where we live, shop, and play.”
Though she had been at Hoke Hospital for less than a month at the time of this interview, she said she was already impressed with the passion and dedication of all the staff she’s met.
“They want to make sure nobody has to travel a long distance for care that we can provide right here in Hoke County,” she said. “Everyone really works together well, is extremely friendly and involves patients in their care.”
As someone who is new to lead this top-rated hospital, which has a history of repeated 5-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and A ratings from the Leapfrog group, McLendon recognizes that the hospital staff are already doing a lot of things right.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about what other services our community needs and how we can work together to bring them to Hoke County.”
– Sonja McLendon, President, Hoke Healthcare
“Name a department, and you will see exceptional care happening there,” she said. “And I think they’re also really focused on improving care, and not happy to rest on our laurels. I want to continue to work with our staff and physicians to improve processes that impact patients and families.”
McLendon said she’s interested in getting more input from the community and staff about what more the hospital can offer to Hoke County and beyond. Currently, the 41-bed healthcare complex includes an Emergency Department, Radiology, Surgical Services, Laboratory, Retail Pharmacy, Cardiopulmonary Services, Physical and Occupational Therapy. They also have Primary Care, OB/GYN and Podiatry clinics.
“It’s early days,” she said, “but I’m looking forward to learning more about what other services our community needs and how we can work together to bring them to Hoke County, whether it’s inside the hospital, in an outpatient facility, or through partnerships with other organizations.”
