Todd Gallati, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trident Health since 2008 has announced he will retire from healthcare on June 1, 2021, his 32nd anniversary of entering healthcare and with HCA Healthcare.

“Since I was a kid I have always loved the work of hospitals. Memories of joining my dad during his surgical rounds or of my first job as a nursing assistant and transporter are still fresh enough to give me that perspective of the important work that our team performs each day with each patient. This unprecedented year in which COVID has dominated every aspect of health care has obviously amplified that appreciation and the role we play in our community.”

Trident Health is a 445 bed health system and includes two acute care hospitals, 321 bed Trident Medical Center and 124 bed Summerville Medical Center, and three freestanding emergency departments Brighton Park Emergency, Centre Pointe Emergency and Moncks Corner Medical Center. Trident Health is one of the Top 10 largest employers in the tri county area with more than 2,500 colleagues and a medical staff of more than 600 physicians.

“Todd’s leadership will have a positive and long lasting impact on the quality of healthcare for Lowcountry families,” said David Castellone, MD, Palmetto Primary Care Physicians and past Chairman of Trident Health’s Board of Trustees. “He has always been a patient first CEO. The foundation for compassionate and quality care he helped build is strong and secure. He has positioned Trident Health well to meet the growing healthcare needs of our region.”

Among Trident Health’s recent accomplishments under Gallati’s leadership are:

• Completion of a more than $100M expansion of Women’s and Children’s and ER services at Summerville Medical Center
• Recent opening of Brighton Park Emergency, the health system’s third free standing emergency department
• Addition of Level ll Trauma services at Trident Medical Center
• Opening of an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Trident Medical Center
• Expanded critical care services for patients needing heart, lung, stroke and behavioral health care at Trident Medical Center
• Trident Medical Center received designation by Healthgrades as one of the nation’s Top 50 Hospitals for Vascular Surgery
• Trident Health has provided more than $50 million in uncompensated and charity care in 2020

Trident Health Chief of Staff John McGue, MD, Charleston Radiologists, said, “It has been a pleasure and honor to work with Mr. Gallati over the past 12 years. He is an excellent leader who has continuously expanded and improved the medical services we provide our patients. He is well respected by the medical staff. I wish him well in his next phase.”

In his message to Trident Health staff and physicians Gallati said, “While I may be retiring from healthcare, my wife, two boys and I will remain in the Lowcountry working with many others who dedicate their lives to making this region one of the best places for families to live, work, play and serve. It has been my honor to work alongside you and I thank you for your service. I look forward to assisting with the transition over the next few months.”

A search for Gallati’s successor is underway.