ATLANTA — Derek Rozier, chief financial officer at Liberty Regional Medical Center, graduated Jan. 13 from the Leadership GHA Class of 2016-17, a health care leadership program of the Georgia Hospital Association.

Rozier was one of 21 hospital employees from around the state accepted into the most recent class.

"This is a great accomplishment for each of the 21 new graduates who were part of this esteemed program," said GHA President Earl Rogers. "The completion of this rigorous statewide leadership development course puts them in better position to continue to advance in their health care careers."

Rozier, who joined LRMC as controller in May 2011 after having served in financial roles in two other Georgia hospitals, received his MBA from South University in Savannah in 2011 and his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro in June 2006. He was named the hospital’s interim CFO in January 2015 and was appointed to the position permanently in November 2015.

The six-month program, which begins each summer, uses a variety of techniques to educate participants on issues that characterize Georgia’s health care system. The program includes workshops, conferences, panel discussions and field trips to a variety of hospitals and health systems throughout the state.

As the leadership skills of the participants are developed and expanded, they are encouraged to use them to transform and improve Georgia’s health care system and their communities. Participation must be nominated by GHA-member hospital CEOs.