East Alabama Health announces major growth, quality milestones and workforce investments in first-ever State of the System address
February 16, 2026
During East Alabama Health’s first-ever State of the System address on February 10, organization officials detailed how the organization has expanded to better serve patients, underscored its wide‑ranging impact on regional well‑being, and shared their strategic vision for continued excellence.
The historic event was attended by nearly 200 local and state leaders and community partners. Hospital officials detailed East Alabama Health’s expanding regional impact, nationally recognized commitment to quality, medical education, workforce development and clinical research.
Growing services to meet the needs of a growing community
East Alabama Health, which first began as Lee County Hospital in 1952 with 81 beds, is now a three-hospital health system with more than 4,100 employees and 400 physicians serving 11 counties.
Today, patients have access to high-quality care across our three hospital campuses—East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital, and East Alabama Medical Center North—as well as countless outpatient clinics and primary and specialty physician offices.
“Although we have grown tremendously since 1952, one thing has never changed: our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we are proud to serve,” Grill said. “Everything we do is rooted in that mission and in the people who make it possible.”
In response to continued population growth across its service area, East Alabama Health has expanded patient access system‑wide, experiencing record volumes in emergency care, primary care, and specialty care, including cardiology, oncology, neurology and many other services.
In fiscal year 2025 alone, the health system cared for nearly 84,000 emergency patients and welcomed 2,281 babies, while its primary care practices saw more than 60,000 visits across Lee, Chambers and surrounding counties.
Meeting the growing health needs of the region has required major investments in medical providers. East Alabama Health welcomed 33 physicians spanning 18 different specialties to its medical staff in 2025.
The organization also completed two major expansions in 2025 by opening a new mental health hospital called East Alabama Medical Center North and completing a 30‑bed ICU addition at EAMC. During the event, the organization also announced forthcoming plans to nearly double the size of its Spencer Cancer Center.
Emphasis on meeting standards of quality care
East Alabama Health’s commitment to quality and safety remains central to its mission, guiding how care is delivered across the system. The organization has maintained Joint Commission accreditation since 1959 and has earned recognition as both a Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence and a Primary Stroke Center in recent years.
East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), the system’s flagship campus, is also one of only four hospitals in Alabama participating in the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), a data‑driven initiative that supports improved outcomes, reduced complications and more effective surgical care across all specialties.
“Quality and safety aren’t just goals, they’re commitments we uphold every day, for every patient,” said Michael Roberts, M.D., chief quality officer at East Alabama Health. “Being a highly reliable health system means delivering the right care, the right way, every time, with a focus on safety, consistency, and compassion—even in the most complex moments of care”
Growth in academic medicine is a focal point
Growth in academic medicine continues to be a defining priority for East Alabama Health as the organization deepens its commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.
In recent years, East Alabama Health has expanded its role as an academic teaching institution.
Today, East Alabama Health operates two graduate medical education (GME) programs—Internal Medicine and Psychiatry—with the mission of training and retaining high‑quality physicians in east Alabama. Soon, the system will launch a Transitional Year Program, further broadening training opportunities and strengthening the physician pipeline for the communities EAH serves.
“Graduate medical education is one of the many ways East Alabama Health invests in its workforce,” said Sarah Nunnelly, chief strategy and business development. “By training the next generation of healthcare professionals, we are strengthening care for our community today while ensuring access to high-quality care for years to come.”
The system has also significantly expanded clinical research, particularly through oncology trials at the Spencer Cancer Center and innovative collaborations with Auburn University, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Auburn and other academic partners.
In partnership with VCOM-Auburn, East Alabama Health awarded the first Research and Education Advancing Community Healthcare (REACH) Grants. These $50,000 seed grants are designed to foster innovation, support early-stage research and strengthen academic collaboration.
These grants reflect EAH’s growing leadership in fostering community‑centered research that directly improves patient outcomes.
Recognizing individual excellence in patient care
The 2026 State of the System concluded with the presentation of two inaugural awards recognizing two individuals.
Nojan Valadi, M.D., a neurohospitalist and director of East Alabama Health’s Stroke Center, was recognized with the Physician Impact Award. The new award honors a physician whose innovation and dedication to patients has yielded higher levels of care offered to community members.
Since joining the organization’s medical staff in 2022, Valadi has built a nationally recognized stroke program that has continuously enhanced stroke care in the region. Under Valadi’s guidance, EAMC has been recognized by the American Heart Association for meeting strict, research-based standards of care for stroke patients.
Tanya Rice, who serves as director of East Alabama Health’s Office of Patient Safety, was honored with the inaugural Terry Andrus Leadership Award. This award, named in honor of long-time CEO Terry Andrus, recognizes extraordinary leadership and service within East Alabama Health’s management team.
About East Alabama Health
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, East Alabama Medical Center North in Opelika, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 316-bed regional referral hospital. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 4,100 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.
