Bryan Mullins named Ballad Health’s vice president of pulmonary and critical care

Bryan Mullins, a registered respiratory therapist with extensive bedside and management experience, has been named Ballad Health’s new vice president of pulmonary and critical care services.

Mullins, who also serves as chief operating officer at Johnston Memorial Hospital, has already started his new role. He will help coordinate all inpatient and outpatient pulmonary, respiratory and critical care services at Ballad Health hospitals, including its respiratory procedures, intensive care units and interventional pulmonary programs.

“There is tremendous potential to move this service line forward and see what opportunities are out there,” said Mullins, who started his career in 1986 as a respiratory therapist at Norton Community Hospital. “We have an excellent group of physicians, managers and team members who already work collaboratively to accomplish new service line initiatives. Their level of engagement in ensuring high-quality patient outcomes is something that positively impacts patient care at Ballad Health each and every day.

“Our medical staffs are particularly enthusiastic and involved, which makes me even more excited to have the privilege to move into this role. Together, we’ll be able to strengthen this service line and further improve our patients’ care and overall healthcare experiences.”

In his new role, Mullins will collaborate with Ballad Health’s hospital medical staffs and team members to standardize procedures, equipment and capital purchases throughout the system. He’ll also explore potential for new services and the expansion of care access.

“When we looked to fill this role, we knew we wanted someone who understood both sides of our pulmonary and critical care service line – bedside care and administrative,” said Sean McMurray, Ballad Health’s vice president of market operations and service line integration and development. “Bryan has a long history with our organization, and he’s someone our team members and physicians respect and value. He’ll help our pulmonary, respiratory and critical care services become even stronger, thereby improving lives throughout the Appalachian Highlands.”

At Norton Community, Mullins started the hospital’s pulmonary and cardiac rehab program and also led its imaging and occupational medicine programs. Prior to the merger creating Ballad Health, he served as the legacy Mountain States Health Alliance’s associate vice president of cardiovascular services before becoming chief operating officer at Johnston Memorial in 2013. Even though his work is now administrative, Mullins has also maintained an active respiratory therapy license.

“I’ve been very blessed to be a part of the Ballad Health family these last few decades, and I’m excited for the future,” Mullins said. “I’m looking forward to playing a part in the provision of high-quality pulmonary and critical care services for the people of our community.”