Our Leadership
Dave Santoemma, CEO
Dave Santoemma has been named Chief Executive Officer of Central Carolina Hospital effective April 1, 2024.
Prior to joining CCH, Santoemma served as Chief Operating Officer of Starr Regional Medical Center, a two-hospital system in Athens and Etowah, TN. In this role, he provided oversight for financial performance, strategic planning and day-to-day operations of assigned departments, including Imaging, Lab, Pharmacy, Plant Operations, Rehabilitation Services, Security and others. During his tenure at Starr Regional, he also served as a board member of the United Way of McMinn & Meigs Counties and McMinn Chamber of Commerce.
Previously, Santoemma served as Associate Administrator at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, AR, where he provided leadership support to hospital departments, including Environmental Services, Imaging, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Plant Operations, inpatient and outpatient therapy, and others.
Santoemma holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a Professional in Patient Safety certification (CPPS), awarded for demonstrating a high level of proficiency in the core standards of patient safety.
Mylissa Hess, CNO
Mylissa Hess, DNP, has been named Chief Nursing Officer of Central Carolina Hospital effective Monday, Jan. 26.
A visionary nurse leader and healthcare executive with more than 20 years of progressive clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Hess brings a disciplined, mission-driven leadership style grounded in service, resilience and operational excellence to her role at CCH. For the past 10 years, she has served as a critical care nurse in the United States Navy Nurse Corps, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
A native of Decatur, IN, Dr. Hess earned her Paramedicine Associate in Science degree from Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, IN, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and her Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, IN. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
She has been nationally recognized for her contributions to nursing leadership and patient care quality, including being named one of Today’s Nurse 2025 Top Chief Nursing Officers.
David Munton, CFO
David Munton has been named Chief Financial Officer of Central Carolina Hospital effective June 3, 2024.
Munton has been with Duke LifePoint Healthcare since 2021, serving most recently as Chief Financial Officer of Twin County Regional Healthcare in Galax, Va. Prior to that, he served as Controller of National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas, from 2021 to 2023.
Before joining Duke LifePoint, Munton served as Financial Analyst and as an Accountant with Loma Linda University Health Shared Services, in Loma Linda, California. He brings more than 15 years of experience to CCH and has worked with small community hospitals as well as large hospital systems during his career.
Munton received his masters of science accountancy and his bachelor of arts in business administration with a concentration in finance from California State University in San Bernadino, California.