Sentara Healthcare names new head of human resources

Published May 25, 2017 by Veronica Garabelli

Sentara Healthcare has appointed its first female to lead its human resources department.

Becky Sawyer has been promoted to senior vice president of human resources, effective May 29.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge that 81 percent of the workforce at Sentara is comprised of women,” Sawyer said in a statement. “Sentara has been a positive, supportive workplace for me, and I want to help ensure that we continue to celebrate a diverse, multigenerational team committed to our mission to improve health every day.”

Sawyer currently serves as vice president of human resources for Sentara hospitals in Hampton Roads, South Boston and Elizabeth City, plus Support Services, Sentara Medical Group, Sentara Enterprises, Sentara Life Care and Optima Health. She succeeds senior vice president Michael V. Taylor, who is launching an in-house program to develop future executive leaders for Sentara hospitals and other divisions.

Sawyer is a Virginia Beach resident raised in Montana. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Troy University and a master’s in public administration from Arkansas State University.