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The MEDIC Regional Blood Center Board of Directors has announced Alan Watson as the new president and Chief Executive Officer.

Watson is set to join the MEDIC team March 13. Watson has spent 30 years in healthcare administration.

“He brings a strong background in organizational leadership,” said board chair Jack Bryan. “Alan’s experience serving as CEO of several hospitals and health systems will bring a global view of administration and community to his new role in the blood banking industry.”

Watson has most recently served as the interim CEO for LifePoint Health System. Previously, he has served as the CEO for hospitals in Cleveland, Knoxville, and Columbia, Tennessee. Watson has a bachelor’s in Nuclear Medicine Technology, a master’s in Community Health Administration, and a master’s in Health Law and Policy.

Jim Decker announced his retirement in July and will work alongside Watson during a period of transition through April 30. Decker has been with MEDIC for 16 years and prior to that was in hospital administration in Middle and East Tennessee.

MEDIC Regional Blood Center is a nonprofit organization serving 24 hospitals in 22 counties in East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky.

MEDIC Regional Blood Center was established in 1958 by Carl Nelson, M.D., under the sponsorship of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine. MEDIC is a nonprofit organization and offers a Blood Coverage Program covering members’ blood supplier processing fees at any hospital in the country. MEDIC is an accredited member of AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) and America’s Blood Centers. MEDIC is a member of the Alliance for Community Transfusion Services, Blood Centers of America and the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps.

The center adheres to all blood product safety regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is licensed by the FDA and the State of Tennessee. MEDIC is an independent blood center and is not affiliated with the American Red Cross.

For more information on MEDIC Regional Blood Center or to schedule your donation, call 865-805-2008.