Charlotte, N.C.-based Novant Health has laid off Philip Brown, MD, according to a Jan. 25 report from NBC affiliate WECT. Dr. Brown was the health system's chief community impact officer and former executive vice president and chief physician executive at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.
In a statement to WECT, Dr. Brown said he was no longer employed by Novant Health as of Jan. 23, saying that his role was eliminated "by a systemwide reduction."
In an email sent to Becker's, a spokesperson said Novant Health recently made the decision to lay off 50 team members.
"Like so many healthcare providers around the country, Novant Health continues to feel the lingering effects of the pandemic and its impact on the costs of providing care," the statement said. "We recently made the difficult decision to scale back departments across the organization. This impacted 50 people systemwide, which includes over 35,000 team members."
Dr. Brown, a vascular surgeon, was named chief community impact officer in April 2021. The role was part of the system's diversity, inclusion and equity team.
"We appreciate Dr. Brown’s contributions to the organization and wish him the best. We remain committed to advancing our health equity work in the Wilmington area, utilizing other team members," a Novant Health spokesperson told WECT.
Novant Health acquired New Hanover Regional Medical Center in February 2021. Dr. Brown was the executive vice president and chief physician executive at the hospital from January 2016 until the spring of 2021, when he took on the systemwide executive role as Novant integrated with NHRMC.