COLUMBIA - Hugh C. Tappan, President of HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division, has been named the 2026 Chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA). In this role, he will lead efforts to strengthen statewide collaboration among hospitals, advance improvements in patient care and access, and support the development of a robust healthcare workforce to serve South Carolina’s growing population.
Tappan was appointed President of HCA’s South Atlantic Division in January 2015.. The South Atlantic Division includes 12 hospitals and more than 200 care sites across Northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Prior to this role, Tappan served as Chief Executive Officer of HCA’s Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.
“It is an honor to serve as Chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association,” Tappan said. “I am inspired by the dedication of our hospital teams across the state, and I look forward to working with leaders and caregivers to advance quality, expand access, and support the workforce that makes our mission possible. Together, we can continue building a stronger, healthier future for everyone in our state.”
Since taking leadership of the South Atlantic Division, Tappan has overseen transformative growth and patient-centered improvements, including:
- Investing more than $3.5 billion to improve access to care. This includes leading the acquisition of hospitals in Savannah, Waycross and Vidalia, GA, the opening of 12 free-standing ERs and the construction of HCA Healthcare Live Oak Mental Health and Wellness, an 84-bed free-standing mental health facility in Ladson, SC.
- Launching a division-wide community engagement structure , including hiring the Division’s first AVP of Community Engagement to strengthen partnerships that focus on food security, mental wellness, healthcare careers, heart care and access to cancer care.
- Leading the Lowcountry Rebranding Initiative (2025), aligning more than 35 care sites under the unified HCA Healthcare brand—reinforcing a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care across Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, and Colleton counties.
These achievements reflect Tappan’s commitment to sustainable growth, improved access, and high-quality patient care across the region.
“We are grateful for Hugh’s willingness to serve and confident in the leadership he will provide,” said Thornton Kirby, SCHA President and CEO. “His experience, integrity, and passion for patient-centered care will be invaluable as he guides our organization through the coming year.”
Tappan was appointed Chair of SCHA at its annual meeting in December 2025 and will serve in the role through the end of 2026.
About the South Carolina Hospital Association
SCHA is committed to making South Carolina one of the nation’s healthiest states by helping our hospitals and health systems provide the best care possible. We advocate for sound healthcare policies and legislation, facilitate collaboration to tackle problems that none of us could solve alone, find and share innovations and best practices, and provide data, education, and business solutions to help our members better serve their patients and communities. Together, we are leading South Carolina to a better state of health. Learn more about SCHA at www.scha.org.