Winston-Salem, NC -- Novant Health, the not-for-profit healthcare system serving the Carolinas and Northern Virginia, has named Randall Edwards, PhD, to serve on the Novant Board of Trustees. Dr. Edwards represents the Prince William Health System which recently joined Novant Health in July, 2009.

Edwards is a retired executive vice president of George Mason University after 39 years of service in higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He currently provides consulting services to several clients in the Northern Virginia area.

Edwards serves on the Board of Trustees of Prince William Health System and chairs its finance committee. In addition to his service to healthcare, Edwards has served on the Board of Directors for the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center, the Prince William-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Economic Bridge Initiative. He was a member of the Prince William Economic Development Council, the Arlington Economic Development Commission, the Prince William I-66 Partnership, the Ballston Partnership, Friends of Arlington and the Joint Arlington Advisory Board.

Dr. Edwards holds an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, a master's degree in sanitary engineering and a PhD in civil engineering.

"The Novant Board of Trustees emulates the devotion to community service throughout our health system," commendted Paul Wiles, Novant Health President and CEO. "Dr. Edwards experiences in higher education, economic development and public service adds talent and perspective that will help our organization as we balance our priorities around patient care, financial management and community outreach."

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Novant Health is a not-for-profit integrated group of hospitals and physician practices, caring for patients and communities in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The Novant Medical Group consists of 1,112 physicians in 376 clinic locations. Hospital affiliates include Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte area; Forsyth Medical Center and Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem; Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; Brunswick Community Hospital in Supply; Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury; and Prince William Hospital in Manassas, VA. Other Novant facilities and programs include nursing homes and assisted living, outpatient surgery centers, medical plazas, rehabilitation programs, community health outreach programs and the national MedQuest organization with 103 diagnostic imaging centers in 13 states. Novant Health is ranked 12th nationally among the 2009 Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks, according to an analysis by the SDI health informatics company.