Robert Dickens joined the administration of Auburn Regional Medical Center as its chief operating officer.

Dickens was most recently an associate administrator at the Northwest Texas Health System, a Universal Health Services-owned hospital located in Amarillo, Texas.

Steve Patonai, president and CEO of Auburn Regional Medical Center, announced the appointment to staff last month and noted Dickens’ extensive experience and knowledge of hospital operations, quality processes and construction as deciding factors in his hiring.

The new COO is a former U.S. Marine who maintains his license as a Registered Nurse. He received his Masters in Healthcare Administration from Texas State University-San Marcos and became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in May, 2009 where he was also awarded an Early Career Healthcare Executive Award.

Dickens considers his strengths “holding myself and others accountable and building trust through open communications. I am excited to be in the Auburn community and a member of the administrative team at ARMC. I look forward to working with hospital staff and physicians to improve the overall patient care experience.”

He has relocated to the Auburn area with his wife Amber and three daughters.

Auburn Regional Medical Center is a progressive acute care hospital and medical campus that has been serving the South King and North Pierce Counties since 1921. ARMC is committed to Service Excellence and provides caring, timely, professional, effective and efficient service to all of our patients and families. It is a thriving community hospital, proud to offer the high-tech advantages of a big city hospital and the personalized care of a hometown provider.