King’s Daughters Medical Center department heads will meet thehospital’s new leader Wednesday when he officially takescontrol.

Alvin Hoover, 51, of Abbeville, S.C., was selected last month bythe search committee to replace Phillip Grady, who resigned nearlysix months ago.

“We’re very happy to have Alvin, Nancy and their two girlsmoving into our community and we look forward to Alvin Hoover’sleadership and the vision that he’ll provide for King’s DaughtersMedical Center as we continue to tell our story and provide healthcare services to our area,” said Johnny Rainer, chief developmentofficer at the hospital.

Since February 2000, Hoover was the chief executive officer atAbbeville Area Medical Center (AAMC), a 25-bed hospital with astaff of approximately 200 employees. He will now oversee a 112-bedhospital with a 400-member staff.

According to the Abbeville Index-Journal, when Hoover arrived in2000 the facility was “at a critical crossroads in its existence”with only 18 days of operating capital in its banking reserves.Hoover not only straightened out the hospital’s finances, but alsosucceeded in improving the facilities.

Only last year, he finished supervising the construction of anew facility in Abbeville, a transition from the old AbbevilleCounty Memorial Hospital to AAMC.

The experience of constructing a new hospital in South Carolinawill certainly be an asset here as KDMC is in the midst of an $11million expansion and renovation, Rainer said. The Abbevillefacility also operates a home health agency, sleep lab andrespiratory facility, all of which are available at KDMC.

Hoover, a native of Atlanta, holds a Bachelor of Science degreefrom Houghton College in New York, a Master of Education fromGeorgia State University and a Master of Science in health servicesadministration from Central Michigan University.

He is active in his church and community organizations. InAbbeville, he was a member of the Rotary Club, March of Dimes,Chamber of Commerce and several soccer associations.

Chief Financial Officer Dean Snider has served as interim CEOsince Grady’s resignation.

“We feel like Dean Snider has done an excellent job of providingleadership during this period as we’ve done the executive search,”Rainer said.