Elwood Bernard "Bernie" Boone III Named President of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital

Sentara Health announced that Elwood Bernard “Bernie” Boone III, MHA, FACHE, has been named President of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (SMJH). Boone will begin his tenure on June 2, 2025. He joins SMJH from Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, where he has served as president since 2012.

Boone brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience and is known for building high-performing teams, expanding access to care, and advancing patient-centered services. He was recently honored with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Award for Central Virginia and named a 2025 Virginia Black Business Leader Awards winner by Virginia Business magazine.

“Bernie is a thoughtful and experienced leader with a deep commitment to patient-centered care and community health,” said Jeff Joyner, SVP and President Acute Care Northwestern Market for Sentara. “He is well-prepared to lead Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital into its next chapter, strengthening our Caring Tradition while advancing care for the communities we serve.”

Boone has a track record of successful leadership in healthcare, including executive roles focused on operational performance, physician engagement, and strategic service development. He is also deeply connected to the region—his family has multigenerational roots in the Piedmont area of Virginia, and he has witnessed firsthand the compassionate, high-quality care provided at SMJH to his own loved ones.

“My family’s connection to this region makes this opportunity especially meaningful,” said Boone. “Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital has a long-standing reputation for clinical excellence and a deep, trusted bond with the community. I’m honored to join this remarkable team and help write the next chapter in its legacy, further strengthening our culture of patient-centered care, expanding access to services, and working alongside staff, physicians, and community partners to support the health needs of the region.”

Boone earned a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Boone and his wife, Dr. Dorothy French, are looking forward to relocating to the Charlottesville area and embracing the local community.

Learn more about Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital and the services available in the region at sentara.com.