January 27, 2026 NGHS president and CEO named one of Georgia’s most influential people in 2026 View »

In Georgia Trend magazine's own words, Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) "is a powerhouse in north Georgia." So, it's only fitting that the magazine named Matt Hanley, MD, NGHS president and CEO, to its list of 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.

"In a short amount of time with NGHS, Matt has demonstrated strong leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence. We are all fortunate to work alongside someone like him who celebrates our accomplishments and encourages us to strive for the next level," said Spence Price, chair of NGHS' Board of Trustees. "These efforts reach far beyond our campuses and clinics, strengthening the wellbeing of our region and contributing to meaningful progress across Georgia."

Hanley joined NGHS as president and CEO in April 2025, taking the reins from the organization's longtime leader, Carol Burrell - who Georgia Trend also recognized as one of the state's most influential people for more than a decade. Others who have the honor of being listed with Hanley this year include Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, The Home Depot president and CEO Ted Decker, University of Georgia president Jere Morehead and Coca-Cola chair and CEO James Quincey.

"Being recognized among Georgia's most influential leaders is humbling, especially considering I've been on the job less than a year," Hanley said. "But this is truly a team award. I can't do my job without each and every person who works at NGHS and I know we all feel the responsibility to use our collective influence to serve our communities. And at NGHS, that means staying focused on keeping people healthy, expanding access to care and ensuring we're meeting the needs of the those who depend on us every day."

Hanley started his career as an emergency medicine physician at Centra Health in Lynchburg, Virginia. He worked his way up, eventually becoming chief medical officer for Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hanley went on to serve as SSM Health's chief clinical officer and interim president of the system's operations in Wisconsin, as well as serving as market president for Navvis Healthcare, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hanley earned his undergraduate degree from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and earned a master's degree in Business Administration from Duke University.

To learn more about NGHS, visit nghs.com.