Spalding Regional Medical Center and Sylvan Grove Hospital in Jackson have a new chief financial officer. Georgia Tech graduate Tamara Ison took the position on April 24 after serving as interim CFO since early February.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work more closely with our physicians, staff and community of both facilities,” she said in a press release.

Ison, who holds a bachelor of science degree in management and a certificate in accounting, worked at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as an accounting manager for six years prior to coming to Spalding Regional.

“I know the community very well,” she said.

Although not originally from Griffin, she went to Griffin High School and her husband was “born and bred” in Griffin. She began her career at Spalding Regional as director of finance in January 2004. In October 2005 she was promoted to controller, where she oversaw accounts payable, payroll and general financial reporting.

“It’s almost like an assistant CFO role,” she said. “As controller, you’re considered kind of the right-hand person to the CFO.”

As chief financial officer, Ison oversees the admissions department, business office, materials management purchasing, information systems, accounting, chart audit and medical records. As CFO, she is responsible for the hospital’s finances.

“I’m the number person for this facility,” she said.

Ison said she oversees the “integrity and accuracy of our financial reporting” and also assists the chief executive officer from the financial side in special projects such as opening clinics in the community.

“Tamara has demonstrated excellent leadership skills, great integrity and a strong work ethic,” said John Quinn, chief executive officer of Spalding Regional Medical Center and Sylvan Grove Hospital, in a press release. “These qualities combined with her financial experience made her a well-qualified and excellent candidate for this role.”

In addition to her work at Spalding Regional, Ison serves on the board of the Griffin-Spalding County United Way and attends First Assembly of God in Griffin. 

Spalding Regional is a 160-bed acute care hospital that provides the residents of Spalding, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar and Pike counties with such services as same-day surgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, sports medicine and mammography. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The 25-bed Sylvan Grove Hospital offers endoscopic procedures, family care and longer-term care through its swing-bed program.