Kendra Sermarini has been named CEO of the future 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital under construction at 8321 Veterans Parkway in north Columbus. The hospital is expected to begin caring for patients in summer 2023. 

Sermarini, who will assume the position in spring 2023, will be responsible for overseeing the future hospital’s day-to-day operations as well as patient care and quality. The hospital will provide 24-hour nursing care as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies to patients recovering from major illnesses and injuries— including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and complex orthopedic conditions.

“We thank Kendra for her dedication, hard work, and leadership at Piedmont for more than a decade. We are sad for her to leave our organization but we are also excited to welcome her to the future leadership team at our new joint venture hospital with Encompass Health,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill. “Kendra models the Piedmont promise of making a positive difference in every life we touch, and we know she will continue to elevate the high-quality rehabilitative care to patients in the Columbus community as she takes on her new role.”

“Kendra is a highly-accomplished leader with extensive experience in acute care, rehabilitative care, and hospital-based outpatient departments, and we are honored she has accepted the role as CEO of the future hospital,” said Brad Kennedy, President of Encompass Health’s South Central region. “She has exceled in numerous leadership roles in a rapidly-changing healthcare environment with a focus on patient care and outcomes, and shares Encompass Health’s vision and commitment to exceptional patient care.”