Spartanburg Regional Foundation appoints veteran leader

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David Church will serve as president of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation beginning March 20, bringing more than 30 years of health care system leadership and fundraising experience to the role.

A lifelong resident of the Upstate, Church has held numerous executive positions within Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, currently serving as system vice president of oncology and support services, according to a news release.

During his time at Spartanburg Regional, Church has helped lead fundraising efforts that supported the construction of the Hospice Home, the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health, Gibbs Cancer Center in Spartanburg and most recently the seven-story, 191,000-square-foot expansion of Gibbs Cancer Center at Pelham.

“Throughout his extensive health care career, David has been a visionary leader and champion of continuous improvement,” Jon Jensen, chair of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation Board of Trustees, said in the news release. “His history of philanthropic success and lasting relationships within our community make him uniquely suited to lead the Spartanburg Regional Foundation.”

In 1993, Church was named transportation operations manager for Spartanburg Regional — the first in a series of leadership roles that included director of safety and security, director of operations and marketing for home care services, executive director for community services and executive director of Gibbs Cancer Center. In 2020, he also began leading Spartanburg Regional’s COVID-19 Task Force Steering Team, which oversaw the system’s response to the pandemic.

Church will succeed Kristy Caradori, who has served as foundation executive director since May 2013 and is moving to North Carolina.

Church was named chair of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education in 2020. He also serves as an adjunct professor for the health care administration program at Converse University.

Church earned an associate degree from Spartanburg Methodist College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of South Carolina–Upstate, an MBA from Pfeiffer University and a Doctor of Health Care Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Church also has volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Charles Lea Center, USC Upstate Foundation, Oakbrook Preparatory School and ReGenesis Health Care. He is a 2006 fellow of the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative through Furman University.

Related article: Spartanburg Regional unveils plans for new Union hospital.