In a media release on Friday, June 6, Sentara Health announced David J. Masterson, president of Sentara Obici Hospital and Sentara BelleHarbour in Suffolk, will become president of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston this July.

Masterson, who has served in Suffolk since 2021 and previously led Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center for eight years, brings decades of healthcare leadership experience to the role. He will succeed Brian Zwoyer, who has been appointed vice president of nursing for special projects within the Sentara system.

Zwoyer joined Sentara Halifax as interim president in December 2019 and was named permanent president in April 2020. During his tenure, the hospital earned Rural Health Clinic designation, navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, and began construction on a new facility.

“I have enjoyed my time with SHRH and will greatly miss this incredible team,” Zwoyer said. “I look forward to taking on this new role and being able to use both my leadership and operational skills to improve care delivery at the system level.”

According to the release, under Masterson’s leadership, Sentara Obici Hospital and BelleHarbour strengthened their standing as regional healthcare destinations, particularly for patients in Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, and bordering areas of North Carolina.

“I look forward to joining the community in South Boston and Halifax County,” Masterson said. “Overseeing the construction and launch of the new hospital is an honor. It demonstrates Sentara’s commitment to serving the community now and into the future.”

 Kirkpatrick ‘Kapua’ Conley, senior vice president and acute care market president for Sentara’s Eastern Market, praised Masterson’s leadership style.

“David brings proven success as an inspirational leader and a champion of clinical quality,” Conley said. “He cares deeply about his team members, and he is passionate about rural healthcare. He brings out the best in everyone, which benefits our patients and their health outcomes.”

Masterson joined Sentara in 2013 after serving in executive roles in North Carolina, Indiana, Georgia and South Carolina. His experience ranges from rural 25-bed hospitals to large tertiary medical centers. He holds a master’s degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University. He is also a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and received the ACHE Regent’s Award for Virginia in 2018.

Masterson’s appointment comes as Sentara Health implements a new market-based leadership structure designed to better align its hospital operations with community needs and industry best practices.

Under the new model, announced May 13, Sentara’s 12 hospitals are grouped into four geographic markets: Eastern, Northwestern, Southeast-Norfolk and Southeast-Virginia Beach. Each market will report to its own president and have dedicated leadership teams for medical and nursing oversight.

Conley leads the Eastern Market, where Sentara Halifax and Sentara Obici reside. Dr. Chris O’Connell serves as market chief medical officer, and Shannon Martin is market chief nursing officer.

Eric Conley, executive vice president and president of acute and post-acute care, said the restructuring promotes coordination across the health system while allowing hospitals to tailor care locally.

“The new structure allows us to tailor our approach and operational strategies based on the unique needs of each community, while still benefiting from the consistency and coordination of market-based leadership,” he said.

Sentara said the model will enhance patient outcomes, support innovation sharing, and create growth opportunities across its integrated network of hospitals, clinics and health plans.