Peoria Standard

Memorial Health has appointed Ben Wooten as its new vice president for Emergency Management and Safety. The announcement was made by Mandy Eaton, president and CEO of Memorial Health.

“Safety is our first value at Memorial,” Eaton said. “It’s essential that our facilities are safe and secure and that we’re prepared to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. Ben’s expertise will help us in those efforts.”

Wooten brings over 15 years of experience in emergency management, having led responses to hurricanes, tropical storms, and winter storms with the State of North Carolina Department of Public Safety and other local agencies. In his previous position at Cone Health in North Carolina, he contributed to the organization’s COVID-19 response and helped establish its Emergency Operations Center for continuous risk monitoring and coordination during emergencies.

Wooten holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina State University and a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

In his new position, Wooten will oversee security teams and emergency preparedness across all Memorial Health locations.

Memorial Health provides hospital services in Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Springfield, and Taylorville, as well as primary and urgent care clinics, behavioral health, and home health services.

“Memorial does a great job caring for patients in a variety of different environments, from hospital rooms to clinics and beyond,” Wooten said. “I’m excited to help those teams make sure they’re able to put safety first and feel secure in their surroundings.”