President of UNC Health Rex will leave his role next month to accept new job

The president of UNC Health Rex is leaving to pursue another job, the health system announced Tuesday afternoon.

Ernie Bovio has been president at the Raleigh hospital for five years, helming the organization’s COVID-19 response and expansion into Holly Springs.

Before accepting his job in Raleigh, he was the CEO of High Point Regional Health, which was a part of UNC Health at the time.

Bovio is leaving to become the president of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center near Wilmington.

Kirsten Riggs, Rex’s current chief operating officer, will serve as interim president during the transition. Bovio’s successor has not yet been named.

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.

Teddy Rosenbluth

The News & Observer

919-829-4569

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. She has covered science and health care for Los Angeles Magazine, the Santa Monica Daily Press, and the Concord Monitor. Her investigative reporting has brought her everywhere from the streets of Los Angeles to the hospitals of New Delhi. She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology.