Chattanooga’s Erlanger Hospital is seen in this aerial file photo.WOODARD-THOMPSON’S CAREER AT ERLANGER* June 1992 — Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson joins the staff at Erlanger.* March 2003 — Woodard-Thompson, chief of human resources, is appointed interim Erlanger CEO after Dennis Pettigrew resigns. She holds the position until Jim Brexler is hired as CEO in 2004. She then becomes senior vice president and chief operating officer.* November 2011 — Trustees appoint Woodard-Thompson to be interim CEO after Brexler resigns.* December 2012 — A large group of physicians and members of the black community attend Erlanger’s board meeting and speak in support of Woodard-Thompson after learning she has been cut from the CEO short list.* February 2013 — Trustees vote to appoint Kevin Spiegel as the hospital’s next CEO.* April 2013 — Woodard-Thompson goes on paid leave; her position with the hospital is unclear.Source: Erlanger Health System, Times Free Press archives
Photos of Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson, Erlanger hospital’s two-time interim CEO, are no longer on the hospital’s leadership Web page. Her portrait is no longer in the hospital’s main hallway.
It’s unclear if the longtime Erlanger executive has left the hospital permanently, or if she will return to work under new CEO Kevin Spiegel, who started April 1.
Officially, Woodard-Thompson is on a leave of absence, said Gregg Gentry, chief administrative officer.
He would not say how long Woodard-Thompson’s leave will be, why she took leave, whether she plans to return to Erlanger or what position she will hold if she returns.