FLORENCE, S.C. (Sept. 22, 2026) – MUSC Health-Pee Dee Division has named Jason Cox its CEO. In this role, he will lead MUSC Health Florence Medical Center, MUSC Health Marion Medical Center, MUSC Health Black River Medical Center and the MUSC Health Jean and Hugh K. Leatherman Behavioral Care Pavilion.
Cox assumes the role after five years of distinguished service with MUSC Health, most recently serving as the interim CEO and previous chief operating officer (COO) for the Pee Dee Division.
“During his time with MUSC Health, Jason has distinguished himself through excellent performance, strong operational leadership and a steadfast commitment to our patients, care team members, physicians and the communities we serve,” said Matt Severance, CEO of the MUSC Regional Health Network. “His proven leadership, deep understanding of the Pee Dee region and dedication to advancing healthcare make him exceptionally well prepared to lead the division into its next chapter.”
As COO, Cox played a key role in several transformational initiatives across the Pee Dee Division. His accomplishments include helping to lead the opening of MUSC Health Black River Medical Center, advancing plans for the new Jean and Hugh K. Leatherman Behavioral Care Pavilion, improving Emergency Department efficiency and patient experience and increasing operating room utilization across the division.
Under Cox’s operational leadership, the Pee Dee Division achieved MUSC Health’s highest employee engagement scores over the past three years. In addition, MUSC Health Marion Medical Center was recognized as a Top 15 Rural Hospital in the nation by The Leapfrog Group in 2025, reflecting the division’s continued focus on quality, safety and patient-centered care.
Cox brings more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience to the role. Prior to joining MUSC Health, he served as COO of UNC Health Southeastern and president and CEO of Chestatee Regional Hospital. He began his leadership career in the U.S. Army, where he held healthcare operations and emergency management roles both in the United States and abroad.
A graduate of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Cox earned a Master of Business Administration and holds a bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and State University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is Lean Six Sigma black belt trained.
“It is an honor to serve the communities of the Pee Dee in this role,” said Cox. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside our dedicated physicians, care team members and leaders as we build on our momentum and expand access to high-quality care. Together, we will continue advancing MUSC Health’s mission to preserve and optimize human life while improving the health and well-being of the communities we are privileged to serve.”
As CEO, Cox will lead ongoing efforts to strengthen clinical services, expand access to care and enhance the patient experience across the Pee Dee region. His appointment reflects MUSC Health’s continued commitment to investing in local communities and ensuring residents have access to exceptional care close to home.
###
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,490 students in six colleges and trains more than 1,175 residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, including National Institute of General Medical Sciences COBRE awards. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the healthcare system of MUSC, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding healthcare providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2026, for the 12th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $10.1 billion. The more than 37,130 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
Recent News Releases stories
