Each year, during the January meeting of the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) Board of Directors, the new three-year term is considered for those whose terms are expiring and the annual election of officers is held. At the January 2023 meeting, long-time Chairman of the PMC board of directors, Ron Burchett, announced his intention to remain on the board, but step down from the position and begin a seamless transition in board leadership.

Mr. Burchett has served on the PMC board of directors since 1993 and during the January board meeting, he announced he intends for his new term to be his last on the board. Burchett also announced his plan to step down from the Chairman position to Vice-Chairman, where he said he would remain for at least the first year of the new term. By the final year of the three- year term, he plans to remain a director, but would consider relinquishing the Vice Chairmanship for another director to then be elected.

During Mr. Burchett’s time as Chairman of the board, Pikeville Medical Center has celebrated substantial growth and investments in addition to navigating economic challenges brought about by a once in a lifetime pandemic and resulting inflation. Under Mr. Burchett’s leadership, the board has proudly supported many improvement projects including the opening of the new Heart & Vascular Institute of Eastern Kentucky and the expansion of the Lawson Cancer Center and PMC Emergency Department. During this time, he also helped guide projects such as advancements within the PMC Primary Stroke Center, sleep lab, NICU and the development of new a retail and specialty pharmacy, business complex, urgent care and family wellness centers in Pikeville and Prestonsburg, a primary care center in South Williamson and a specialty care center in Whitesburg. PMC also celebrated the development and opening of the Mettu Children’s Hospital and Appalachian Valley Autism (AVA) Center, both historic events for Eastern Kentucky.