Tom Neal, RN, MBA, MHA, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Neal is a proven leader with more than 30 years of progressive healthcare experience. Prior to his role at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, he served as Chief Executive Officer of both Berwick Hospital Center in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and Greenbriar Valley Medical Center, Ronceverte, West Virginia, which are each part of Community Health Systems (CHS). Tom has an MBA from the University of Louisville, MHA from the California College of Health Sciences, BSN from Regents College of New York and an ADN from Jefferson Community College.
Twice each year, I like to share an update on what’s happening at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through 2026, and this feels like the perfect time to talk about where healthcare on the Plateau is headed in the years ahead.
While our focus every day is providing exceptional care, we’re also thinking about the future. Healthcare continues to evolve, and we want to ensure we grow alongside the communities we serve while remaining responsive to their changing needs.
One way we do that is through our annual Board retreat, which we held in April. This year’s discussions centered on the future — evaluating our strengths, identifying opportunities for growth, and exploring how we can continue meeting the healthcare needs of our community for years to come.
Several priorities emerged from those conversations. One is continuing to recruit outstanding physicians and specialists who can bring additional services closer to home. Another is expanding surgical services so more patients can receive care locally. We also discussed a priority that is critical to our success: investing in our people.
Our team members are the heart of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center. Whether they’re caring for patients at the bedside, supporting residents, working in our clinics, or serving behind the scenes, they make our mission possible. That’s why we’re committed to supporting continuing education, professional growth and leadership development opportunities throughout our organization.
That commitment was on full display during our recent Celebration of Service event, where we recognized team members with 10 or more years of service.
Collectively, those honorees represented more than 1,000 years of service to our patients, residents and community. Healthcare is more than a profession — it is a calling. Many of these individuals have cared for generations of local families and served through some of the most challenging moments in our region’s history, including the Blizzard of 1993, the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Helene.
We’re also helping create pathways into healthcare careers through programs like our Nursing Aid Training Program, where students are paid while they learn. Upon completion, graduates earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification and are prepared to begin meaningful careers in healthcare. Programs like this help strengthen our workforce while creating new opportunities for local residents.
Expanding access to care remains one of our most important goals. Like many rural communities, western North Carolina faces challenges such as transportation barriers, insurance concerns and provider shortages. That’s why we’re continually exploring ways to bring more services closer to home and improve access to the care our communities need.
While we’ll always be the trusted community hospital our residents know and rely on, we also have the opportunity to become an even stronger regional healthcare destination. By expanding services, attracting talented physicians, and investing in our team, we’re building on a strong foundation for the future.
A recent example of that commitment is the addition of orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Franklin Sloboda. Dr. Sloboda brings decades of experience in orthopedic surgery and specializes in hip and knee replacement procedures. Beginning later this summer, he will see patients at Cashiers Medical Clinic and perform total hip and total knee replacement surgeries at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.
As our community continues to grow and remain active, the need for orthopedic services continues to increase. Bringing Dr. Sloboda to our team reflects our commitment to expanding specialty care and ensuring patients can receive high-quality treatment closer to home.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work to shape the future of healthcare on the Plateau.
Favorites Count: 0