A key hospital leader during COVID, Singing River CEO Lee Bond resigns

Singing River Health System CEO Lee Bond resigned Monday following a Board of Trustees meeting, the hospital system announced in a press release.

“I have certainly enjoyed my journey with Singing River over the past several years,” Bond said in the release. “I believe in the mission and hope that in my time here I left it better than when I came. I wish nothing but the best for the future of the health system and this community that I love.”

Bond joined SRHS finance department in 2013 worked his way up to CEO in April 2018. The press release said Bond is leaving to pursue other career opportunities.

The resignation came during a special-called board meeting for “personnel matters,” according to records.

Bond led the hospital system through the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his tenure, he advocated for state and federal funding to retain nurses and other frontline workers as many left to take lucrative travel jobs. He also gave reporters access to COVID ICUs and emergency rooms at Singing River’s Coast hospitals so residents could get an inside look of the crisis at hand, particularly during the deadly delta variant surge.

Bond will stay around for a few months assist Singing River in a search for a new CEO, the release said.

“We thank Lee for his commitment to Singing River Health System over the past eight years and wish him success in his future endeavors,” said board of trustees president Eric Nichols.

Tiffany Murdock will oversee the three-hospital system as interim CEO while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

“We cannot thank Lee enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm, and motivation he has given our organization for almost a decade,” SRHS media relations director Sarah Duffey said in a release. “His heart and soul, fueled by servant leadership, will be missed by all and forever ingrained in our mission to improve health and save lives.”

SRHS has hospitals in Pascagoula, Ocean Springs and Gulfport.

This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 5:45 PM.