Clinton, NC, October 2026: After 21 years of dedicated service, Jerry Heinzman is transitioning from his role as Chief Financial Officer of SampsonRMC into an advisory position, marking another meaningful chapter in the hospital’s history. His leadership has helped strengthen the organization’s financial foundation, navigate significant challenges and preserve its independence as a community-based hospital.
As SampsonRMC looks toward the future following its 75th anniversary celebration, the organization recognizes Heinzman’s lasting contributions while welcoming Mike Ostrander as its new Chief Financial Officer.
For Heinzman, whose healthcare career began in the 1990s, joining SampsonRMC was about finding a place where he could make a difference. Having worked in healthcare organizations of various sizes, he wanted to return to a community hospital where relationships mattered and employees could see firsthand the impact of their work.
From his first visit, SampsonRMC felt like home.
Throughout his career, Heinzman has witnessed significant changes in healthcare, including hospital mergers, acquisitions and closures. Among his proudest accomplishments is helping SampsonRMC remain a successful, independent community hospital, an achievement made possible through thoughtful financial decisions, collaboration and a commitment to the people it serves.
His leadership was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals faced staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, declining patient volumes and financial uncertainty. Working alongside hospital leadership and employees, Heinzman helped navigate those challenges while keeping the organization focused on safe, quality patient care.
Through both the challenges and successes, Heinzman has maintained that the strength of any organization lies in its people.
“I am a firm believer that my success is a direct result of those that I work with,” Heinzman said.
He credits his directors, managers, their teams, fellow administrators and the Board of Trustees for the hospital’s continued success. He also expressed gratitude to former leaders Dempsey Craig and Lee Pridgen for establishing a strong financial foundation that helped position the organization for the years ahead.
His approach to leadership has remained grounded in a simple philosophy: make decisions that serve the best interests of the hospital, its patients and the community.
“My goal is and always has been ‘to leave it better than I found it,’ which I believe I have done,” Heinzman shared.
Beyond his financial leadership, Heinzman has earned the respect of colleagues through his character, consistency and commitment to supporting employees.
“Jerry’s character, competence and consistency are what made him such a trusted and respected leader,” said Cameron Chancy, Controller at SampsonRMC. “His conservative approach to financial leadership brought stability to the hospital and helped strengthen its financial foundation. He understood that investing in employees goes beyond compensation. It means creating opportunities for people to grow, feel valued and develop both personally and professionally.”
Dr. Shawn Howerton, Chief Executive & Chief Medical Officer of SampsonRMC, also recognized Heinzman’s contributions and expressed confidence in the organization’s next chapter.
“Jerry has been an exceptional leader whose dedication and sound judgment have played an important role in the success of SampsonRMC. We are incredibly grateful for his service and the lasting impact he has made on our organization,” said Howerton. “As we welcome Mike, we are confident that his experience and commitment to rural healthcare will build on that success and help guide SampsonRMC into the future.”
Although Heinzman is stepping away from his responsibilities as CFO, his involvement with SampsonRMC will continue. In his advisory role, he will remain a valuable resource, providing institutional knowledge and experience to support the organization during this transition.
Ostrander joins SampsonRMC with extensive experience in rural healthcare finance and a strong appreciation for the importance of independent, locally managed healthcare.
He brings 14 years of experience as the CFO of a rural hospital in upstate New York. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Finance at a larger hospital in the same region. His background has provided firsthand insight into the challenges rural hospitals face and the important role they play in supporting the health and economic well-being of their communities.
For Ostrander, SampsonRMC’s commitment to remaining independent was a major factor in his decision to join the organization.
“What attracted me to Sampson Regional is the fact that it is a small, rural, independent healthcare facility that has the stated goal of remaining independent,” Ostrander said. “I know firsthand the impact that having a high-quality, accessible and locally managed healthcare system has on the local community and the patients it serves.”
As he assumes his new responsibilities, Ostrander plans to build on the organization’s financial success through collaboration with the leadership team and employees.
“My goal is to continue the financial success of the organization in a collaborative way with all of the members of the senior leadership team and the entire organization,” Ostrander said.
His leadership approach emphasizes accessibility, teamwork and building relationships throughout the organization. With an open-door philosophy, he hopes to be present and approachable to employees, physicians, board members and community partners, including those working at facilities beyond the main hospital campus.
“I see my role as ensuring success for the entire organization,” Ostrander said. “I am there to provide support, direction and guidance as we execute the strategic plan.”
While Heinzman and Ostrander bring different experiences to their roles, both share a commitment to protecting SampsonRMC’s independence and ensuring patients continue to have access to quality healthcare close to home.
Heinzman’s advice to the incoming CFO reflects the values that have guided his own leadership.
“I believe that maintaining a focus on quality and customer satisfaction will drive financial results. Please continue to focus on patient outcomes when evaluating financial impacts,” Heinzman said.
For Ostrander, those priorities align closely with his own perspective on the importance of rural healthcare.
“Quality care matters. Having access to healthcare services locally matters. The jobs created and the economic impact to Sampson County matter,” Ostrander said. “Being part of an independent, rural hospital, where everybody knows your name and good things happen every day, matters.”
Ostrander is also looking forward to becoming part of the Sampson County community. Originally from upstate New York, he will be joined by his parents, who are relocating to the area and trading snowy winters for North Carolina’s milder weather.
Outside of work, Ostrander enjoys endurance sports and has completed seven marathons and nine half-Ironman triathlons. He also enjoys attending concerts and making an annual family trip to Auburn, Alabama, for a football game.
“I look forward to meeting all of you,” Ostrander said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and continuing the important work being performed at SRMC. I look forward to integrating into the community and SRMC.”
Looking Ahead
This leadership transition represents both an opportunity to recognize Heinzman’s contributions and a commitment to the hospital’s continued success. His financial stewardship, dedication to employees and efforts to preserve SampsonRMC’s independence have helped establish a foundation that will benefit the organization for years to come.
As Ostrander begins his role as Chief Financial Officer, he will build upon that foundation while bringing his own experience and perspective to the leadership team. Following 75 years of serving the community, SampsonRMC remains focused on the future, committed to maintaining its independence, supporting its employees and providing exceptional healthcare close to home.