MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Judy Bruno will take the helm as president and CEO of WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital in Barnesville and WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz beginning Jan. 13.

“I am honored to welcome Judy to the WVU Medicine family. Her work experience combined with her emphasis on rural healthcare, patient satisfaction, employee engagement, and culture transformation make her the ideal leader for these two hospitals,” Albert L. Wright Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, said. “I would also like to thank Stacey Armstrong, who has served as interim president and CEO of our Barnesville and Harrison hospitals since July 1. She has done a great job of dividing her time between these hospitals while continuing to serve as president of the WVU Innovation Corporation. We appreciate everything she has done as we worked through the search process.”

Bruno joins WVU Medicine after serving in several senior leadership positions of rural hospitals in North Carolina, including president and CEO, chief nursing officer, vice president of patient services, vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing executive. Earlier in her career, she served as chief nursing officer, clinical services director and staff educator and occupational health nurse in her home state of Arkansas.

As president and CEO of Barnesville Hospital and Harrison Community Hospital, Bruno will work closely with Douglass E. Harrison, regional president of WVU Medicine. Harrison also oversees Wheeling Hospital, Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale and Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Judy to WVU Medicine’s northern region and working with her as she takes the helm of our Ohio-based critical access hospitals,” Harrison said. “Judy’s knowledge and experience will be a great asset to our patients and team members.”

Bruno received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her master of business administration from Webster University in Missouri. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and an American Nursing Credentialing Center board-certified nurse executive. She is also a member of the ACHE, the American Organization of Nursing Leadership, and the ANCC.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to join WVU Medicine. Throughout the interview process, I was so impressed with everyone I met. Their passion and commitment to enhancing patient care and taking care of the local community was front and center,” Bruno said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join such a caring group of people.”

Bruno replaces David Phillips, who left the Barnesville and Harrison hospitals to become chief operating officer of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.

For more information on WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital, visit

WVUMedicine.org/Barnesville. For more information on WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital, visit WVUMedicine.org/Harrison-Community-Hospital.