Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Names Dr. Matthew Edwards Chief Executive Officer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Sept. 3, 2026 - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, part of Advocate Health, has named Dr. Matthew Edwards area president and chief executive officer, effective Sept. 14, 2026. Dr. Edwards also will serve as executive vice president for clinical health affairs at Wake Forest University.

In his role as CEO, Dr. Edwards will guide Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's strategic, clinical and operational direction while advancing its role as a leading academic health center. He will also oversee Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist efforts to further align clinical and academic priorities in partnership with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, strengthening the enterprise's academic mission and advancing its learning health system model.

"Dr. Edwards is a respected and trusted leader whose commitments to our patients, communities and teammates have helped shape Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist for more than three decades," said Steve Smoot, president of Advocate Health's North Carolina and Georgia Division, which Atrium Health is a part of. "His lifelong dedication to patient care and ability to bring people together around a shared purpose will help strengthen our impact across the region as we advance care, research and education for the communities we serve."

A nationally recognized vascular and endovascular surgeon, Dr. Edwards joined Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist more than 30 years ago. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held numerous leadership positions and played a key role in advancing clinical excellence, research and medical education.

Most recently, Dr. Edwards served as chief physician executive for the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist area. He currently holds a faculty appointment as professor of vascular and endovascular surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Previously, he held the Richard H. Dean Professorship while serving as chair of vascular and endovascular surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and is the former chief of surgical operations at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Dr. Edwards completed his general surgery and vascular surgery residency training at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters.

He succeeds Dr. Craig Greven, professor of ophthalmology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, who has led the organization as interim CEO since April.

"Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has been my professional home for more than three decades and I am honored to serve this organization in a new capacity," said Dr. Edwards. "Our people, our mission and our commitment to excellence have always set us apart. Together, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health, we are uniquely positioned to redefine what is possible in academic medicine by advancing discovery, educating the next generation of health professionals and continuing to deliver best-in-class care."