Danville Regional Medical Center hired Dr. Saria Carter Saccocio as its first full-time Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Saccocio replaces Dr. Lanny Copeland, who served as Interim CMO since April.

Dr. Saccocio comes to Danville Regional from Georgia, where she was the Associate Director of Floyd Family Medicine Residency. She has also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the family medicine departments of several colleges, including Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia and Mercer University.

“We are grateful for the leadership Dr. Copeland provided while we searched for a permanent Chief Medical Officer,” said Eric Deaton, CEO of Danville Regional. “Dr. Saccocio is an excellent physician with a great deal of experience in family practice and medical leadership. She is already proving to be a great asset to our hospital, and we are glad to welcome her.”

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Saccocio’s responsibilities will include medical staff relations, leadership and guidance for quality improvement and support of the residency program.

“I am very excited to serve Danville Regional as Chief Medical Officer,” said Dr. Saccocio. “I am looking forward to building relationships with the medical staff, the Danville Regional associates and the community in general,” Dr. Saccocio said.  “It was clear to me during my first visit to Danville that this community is a special place - where people work together as a team and help improve the quality of health for all.”

“Additionally, I think the hospital’s growing academic presence is also an opportunity for the hospital to both enhance the quality of care provided to patients and improve professional satisfaction by increasing the knowledge base and educational atmosphere. I will work diligently with the hospital administration, physicians and associates to continue leading Danville Regional in a positive direction while we provide excellent care to our patients,” she added.

Dr. Saccocio is in the process of gaining an executive M.H.A. (master’s degree in health administration) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her M.D. with honors from the University of Florida and completed a residency in family medicine at the University of Miami.  She has published articles, created presentations and led conference and symposium discussions on a variety of topics, including tobacco cessation, diabetes, breast cancer, and physician and hospital quality improvement.

Dr. Saccocio is a member of the American Board of Family Medicine, the American College of Physician Executives and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Danville Regional is the leading medical center in the Dan River Region of Virginia and North Carolina, providing open heart surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Approximately 140 physicians are on the medical staff. The medical center employs approximately 1,200 people.