CRMC CEO Paul Korth Announces Plans To Retire

Cookeville Regional Medical Center CEO Paul Korth announced Wednesday his intent to retire this May.

Korth has been with the medical center for 24 years, serving as CEO since 2013. He said you never know when it will be, but now was the right time to step away.

“It was something when I became the CEO in February of 2013, I said hey 10 years would be a great run,” Korth said. “And I decided I wanted to kind of retire on top and do it on my terms and not somebody else’s.”

Korth said reflecting on his time as Cookeville Regional’s leader, he has no regrets. He said he is most proud of the facility’s growth and expansion of services under his tenure. Korth said that he hopes his lasting legacy is one that regards his accountability and integrity.

“Two things that I very strongly believe in and very proud that I think I’ve delivered,” Korth said. “And just my honesty and my commitment to trying to treat everybody in the medical center, no matter who they are, as I would want to be treated. And I hope I’ve done that.”

The hospital has faced several difficulties just in the last three years alone, with financial concerns, the tornado, and the pandemic. He said the pandemic in particular was one of his biggest learning experiences.

“That was something we had never seen in our history and in my 36 years of doing healthcare,” Korth said. “And I think a lot of things just got us closer together. The staff, the physicians, the employees, everyone just started working on projects together much better and had the positive outcomes that we did.”

Korth said leading up to his official departure on May 1st, he will work to ensure the leadership transition will be as smooth as possible.