Setliff joins UNC Health after a long leadership career at Novant Health in Winston-Salem

RALEIGH, N.C. – October 2, 2024 – Chad Setliff has been named president of UNC Health Rex and Triangle East, which includes hospital campuses in Raleigh, Holly Springs, Clayton and Smithfield. Setliff is scheduled to begin Oct. 28.

Setliff joins UNC Health Rex from Novant Health, where he spent the past 20 years working in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of Novant Health, as both president of the Greater Winston-Salem market and Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.

At UNC Health Rex, Setliff replaces Ernie Bovio, who stepped down in January to pursue another opportunity. Bovio had served as Rex president for the past five years.

Setliff will oversee UNC Health Rex’s hospitals in Raleigh and Holly Springs. As president of Triangle East, he will oversee UNC Health Johnston’s hospitals in Clayton and Smithfield.

“Chad brings a great track record of success and leadership in all dimensions – quality, culture, relationships,” said Jeff Lindsay, UNC Health’s president and chief operating officer. “He’ll be a great addition to our leadership team and serve UNC Health Rex and the Triangle community well.”

Setliff earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and his MBA from Wake Forest University. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and as a Detachment Commander in the N.C. Army National Guard.

“I’m excited to join the incredible UNC Health Rex and Triangle East teams and to help build on our reputation for providing excellent care,” Setliff said. “I’m proud to oversee hospitals that have served so many generations of patients.”

UNC Health Rex and UNC Health Johnston continue to expand to keep up with increasing demand in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions. During recent years, UNC Health Rex opened a new, 50-bed community hospital in Holly Springs and a new Cancer Center across the street from its main Raleigh campus. UNC Health Johnston recently won approval for expansion projects at its Clayton and Smithfield hospitals.

UNC Health Rex is widely recognized as one of the best hospitals in North Carolina by the Leapfrog Group, Newsweek, US News, Business North Carolina and others.

“Chad knows the importance of culture at a successful health system and the importance of supporting our teammates and community,” said Dr. Ann Collins, a Raleigh OB-GYN who serves as chair of UNC Health Rex’s board. “We know that Chad will help us continue fostering Rex’s legacy well into the future.”

About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 15 hospitals, including UNC Health Rex in Raleigh and Holly Springs, 19 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM. UNC Health provided more than $522 million in charity care during the last five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit unchealth.org.