Two Covenant Health Leaders Named to Becker’s 2026 List of Community Hospital CEOs to Know
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- Last Updated: 8/31/2026
Two Covenant Health leaders have earned national recognition for their service to patients, caregivers and communities across East Tennessee.
Becker’s Hospital Review recently named Connie Martin, MT, MS, FACHE, president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health Fort Loudoun, and Gordon Lintz, president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen and Covenant Health Claiborne, to its 2026 Community Hospital CEOs to Know list.
The annual list recognizes leaders who are advancing quality care, expanding services and helping their organizations meet the needs of the communities they serve. According to Becker’s, these executives are building strong workplace cultures while ensuring long-term growth and access to care.
Recognizing Leadership That Makes a Difference
For Covenant Health, the recognition reflects years of dedicated leadership and service.
“Over the years, I’ve watched Connie and Gordon navigate challenges, embrace opportunities and inspire the people around them,” said Mike Belbeck, executive vice president of operations for Covenant Health. “They are trusted, respected leaders. They understand that exceptional healthcare begins with strong relationships, engaged caregivers and a commitment to serving others.”
Connie Martin’s Commitment to Fort Loudoun
Martin has served as president and chief administrative officer of Fort Loudoun since 2022. She brings more than 40 years of healthcare experience to the role.
Before leading Fort Loudoun, Martin served as vice president and chief support officer at Covenant Health’s Methodist Medical Center. Her connection to Fort Loudoun runs even deeper. She began her healthcare career there in the laboratory and has played a key role in advancing patient care and operational excellence throughout her career.
“Healthcare leadership is about looking beyond today’s challenges and making investments that will benefit patients and communities for years to come,” Martin said. “Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from seeing bold ideas become realities that improve lives and expand access to care.”
Martin was also recently named by Becker’s Hospital Review as a Woman Hospital President and CEO to Know.
Gordon Lintz’s Broad Healthcare Experience
Lintz has served as president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen since 2012. In 2024, he also assumed leadership of Covenant Health Claiborne.
At Claiborne, he serves as administrator of Covenant Health Claiborne Rehabilitation, a nursing home that provides both short- and long-term care. He is also a certified nursing home administrator, bringing a broad perspective to healthcare services across hospitals and post-acute care settings.
Since joining Covenant Health in 2008, Lintz has held leadership positions in cancer services, home care, senior services and healthcare research. He also brings a unique perspective through his experience as both a healthcare administrator and a practicing nurse.
“One of the experiences that had the greatest impact on my leadership was going back to nursing school after spending 10 years in healthcare administration,” Lintz said. “It gave me a clinical perspective and the opportunity to work alongside our care teams. It helped me better understand how leadership decisions affect caregivers, patients and families.”
Lintz said community hospitals remain essential to the health of rural communities.
“Community hospitals are the heart of their communities,” he said. “We provide care close to home while supporting local jobs, technology and educational opportunities. A strong community hospital is vital to a healthy community and a healthy local economy.”
His leadership has earned multiple recognitions from Becker’s Hospital Review. In 2018, he received the Tennessee Hospital Association‘s Meritorious Service Award.
Supporting Healthcare Across East Tennessee
Belbeck said the recognition reflects the impact both leaders have had across the Covenant Health system.
“This recognition for Gordon and Connie is a well-deserved acknowledgment of the leadership they bring to Covenant Health and the communities we serve,” he said.
Their inclusion on this national list highlights the important role community hospitals play in delivering accessible, high-quality healthcare. It also reflects Covenant Health’s ongoing commitment to serving patients and expanding care across East Tennessee.
