JACKSON — Merit Health, the healthcare network that includes six regional hospitals, including River Region in Vicksburg, named a new leadership team Friday.

Although River Region is part of the Merit Health network, the hospital’s local administration team continues to lead the hospital.

Steve Dobbs has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Merit Health to oversee efforts to enhance quality, improve access to care and expand services for patients across the central Mississippi region.

“Merit Health is developing innovative ways to care for the central Mississippi community, and I am excited about the opportunities in our future,” Dobbs said in a release. “I look forward to working with the leadership, physicians and employees at all of our hospitals to make Merit Health the first choice of patients in the region.”`

Dobbs has decades of executive healthcare management experience, serving in leadership roles at hospitals and healthcare organizations in Oklahoma, Florida and Kansas. Most recently, he served as CEO of Urologic Specialists of Oklahoma, a 20-member physician practice in Tulsa.

“Steve has the right experience to lead Merit Health as our six hospitals work together to expand how we respond to the needs of the communities we serve,” said Clay Mansell, chairman, Merit Health Central Board of Trustees, in Friday’s release. “He has a strategic approach to managing healthcare organizations that will distinguish our network in the central Mississippi region.”

In addition to Dobbs’, there have been several other executive appointments at Merit Health.

Jimmy Young has been named chief financial officer (CFO) for the Merit Health system — overseeing all six facilities — and will also serve in a dual role as CFO for Merit Health River Oaks and Merit Health Woman’s Hospital. Young brings a wealth of experience to Merit Health, having served as CFO for seven different hospitals and healthcare systems.

Greg Oden, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer. He will oversee the clinical integration and implementation of the best practices across the organization and assist in the development of the Merit Health Medical Group. He will continue to see patients at Merit Health hospitals in the Jackson area.

Tobey Houston, RN, BSN, MHA, has been promoted to vice president of network development. She previously served as director of physician outreach/market development since 2011. In her new role, Houston will lead network and ambulatory care strategies and develop relationships with outside healthcare providers to expand access to primary and specialty care across the region.

Merit Health serves the healthcare needs of the Jackson/Vicksburg region through six hospitals and 36 affiliate clinic locations, including Merit Health Central, Merit Health Madison, Merit Health Rankin, Merit Health River Oaks, Merit Health River Region and Merit Health Woman’s Hospital. The health system employs more than 3,300 people, has 1,200 licensed beds and 1,800 physicians on active medical staff.