10/19/2026
For Steven Gautney, President of Crisp Regional Hospital and Secretary/Treasurer of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW), the value of rural health care is something he has experienced firsthand, from caring for patients at the bedside to leading the hospitals that serve them.
Mr. Gautney began his career in Alabama as a nursing assistant before becoming an intensive care nurse and later transitioning into hospital administration. After spending 18 years in leadership at Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega, he moved to Cordele, Georgia, in 2010. “I wanted to work in a smaller hospital,” Gautney recalled, explaining that he believed he could have “a greater impact on the team.” That early appreciation for community hospitals continues to influence his approach to leadership and his service on the GBHCW Board.
Outside of his professional life, Gautney shares a longstanding connection to health care with his wife, whom he met in nursing school. She currently works as a cardiology specialty nurse practitioner at Tift Regional. Together, they have three sons, including one who practices pulmonary and critical care medicine in Birmingham, and two who live in Cordele. They also enjoy a growing family of six grandchildren.
Throughout his career, Steven Gautney has witnessed both the challenges and opportunities facing rural medicine. He recognizes the growing financial pressures on hospitals but also sees the difference that workforce initiatives can make. At Crisp Regional, GBHCW’s loan repayment programs have benefited physicians and nurse practitioners, providing additional support for those choosing to practice in rural Georgia. “It just makes it easier for doctors to say yes,” Mr. Gautney explained.
During our conversation, we spoke about how the recent shooting in the Cordele area served as a reminder of the vital role rural hospitals play in times of crisis. Mr. Gautney spoke about Crisp Regional’s years of preparation as a Level III trauma center and the importance of ensuring that communities can depend on their local hospital when emergencies arise. He was especially appreciative of his staff's dedication that make that level of care possible. “Most of the credit really should go to the people who answer the phone at night,”.
Looking ahead, Mr. Gautney is encouraged by the possibilities for rural medicine, particularly the expansion of rural residency programs and digital networks connecting smaller hospitals with specialty care. He believes these efforts can help physicians establish lasting ties with rural communities while bringing more specialized services closer to patients.
“I think rural hospitals are going to be here,” expressing his confidence in their continued role in Georgia’s healthcare system.
