Leadership Changes: Chief Operating Officer and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery Named

 
Christopher Cullom (left) and Dr. Jonathan Carmouche (right).

We have a new chief operating officer and chair of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Chief Operating Officer Christopher Cullom

Christopher Cullom has been named chief operating officer for our organization. He will begin work here on Aug. 10.

Chris joins Carilion with nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience across nationally recognized academic health systems, integrated delivery networks and community-based organizations. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to operational excellence, quality and safety, employee engagement, and patient-centered care.

Most recently, Chris served as chief operating officer for Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, part of Jefferson Health, where he helped lead operational strategy for the system’s flagship hospitals and major growth initiatives. In this role, he oversaw large-scale facility optimization efforts, capacity management and operational improvement strategies that strengthened patient access, throughput, and financial performance.

Prior to Jefferson Health, Chris held several executive leadership roles with Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Tenet Healthcare, and University of Florida Health Jacksonville. Across these organizations, he successfully led initiatives focused on culture enhancement, operational transformation, strategic growth, patient experience, and workforce engagement.

Chris earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

As COO, Chris will work closely with teams across the organization to advance our mission of improving the health of the communities we serve while continuing to strengthen operational performance, access and the experience of our patients and employees.

"I’ve enjoyed getting to know Chris through our extensive interviewing process," said President and CEO Steve Arner. "He immediately struck me as someone who would complement our strong culture and values. In addition, his experiences will no doubt bring us fresh perspectives on our operations and the goals we are striving to achieve."

Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Dr. Jonathan Carmouche

Jonathan Carmouche, M.D., M.B.A., has been appointed chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM).

Dr. Carmouche has served as interim chair since January, providing steady leadership and demonstrating a deep commitment to our patients, care teams, and academic mission. His success in the role has made this a natural transition, and we are confident the department will continue to thrive under his leadership.

A highly respected orthopaedic spine surgeon, Dr. Carmouche has practiced in Roanoke for more than 18 years and has long been recognized as an innovative leader within our organization. Prior to serving as interim chair, he held numerous leadership roles, including vice chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, vice chair for research for the Virginia Tech Carilion Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, section chief of Spine Surgery, Scoliosis, Pediatric Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, interim section chief of Orthopaedic Trauma, and chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at CRMH.

He earned his medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine, completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency and a research fellowship at the University of Rochester, and went on to complete a fellowship in Adult and Pediatric Scoliosis and Spine Surgery at Twin Cities Spine Center. He later earned an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Dr. Carmouche has also served as professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the VTCSOM, reflecting his commitment to education, innovation, and developing the next generation of physicians. In 2018, he was one of two first-ever recipients of the school’s Outstanding Research Mentor Award.

Known for his integrity, strategic thinking, and ability to bring people together to solve complex challenges, Dr. Carmouche has earned numerous local and national recognitions throughout his career and contributed extensively to the field through academic scholarship and peer-reviewed publications. His dedication to patient care, research, education, and team development makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the department into its next chapter.