Article Category: Newsroom

Loran Wills, 93, Retires from Paulding County Hospital Authority

Wellstar recognizes longtime chairman who served on board for 46 years

Published on January 29, 2025

Last updated 09:56 AM February 03, 2025

Wellstar Health System recently recognized Loran Wills, who is retiring from the Paulding County Hospital Authority after serving on the board since 1978.

Wills, 93, became involved with Wellstar Paulding Medical Center before the original hospital was even built.

“When I came home from the Navy in 1953, I started hearing about the hospital,” said Wills.

The following year, his father, John Loran Columbus Wills, a hardware store owner, was appointed treasurer of a seven-member hospital authority to lead efforts to establish the county’s first hospital. Wills remembers his father going door-to-door, keeping a logbook of pledges from community members, friends, neighbors, employees of local businesses, and family members.

“He said, ‘Son, I need a hundred dollars out of you,’” Wills recalled. “He said, ‘We’re going to build a hospital. You don’t have to pay it now.’”

At the time, the younger Wills only made about $50 a week.

“That was two weeks’ pay at Lockheed then,” he said.

Wills signed the pledge. Three years later, his father came to collect.

“He said, ‘It’s time to ante up,’” Wills recalled.

“It was a sacrifice,” said his wife, Peggy. “We had just gotten married, and a hundred dollars was a lot of money.”

By 1957, the people of Paulding County had raised the money they needed for the project. They held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 2 of that year. A year later, a 25-bed, 14,000-square-foot hospital known then as Paulding Memorial Hospital opened in Dallas. It was later renamed Paulding Memorial Medical Center.

Following in his late father’s footsteps, Loran Wills joined the hospital authority in 1978.

“Since then, he's served faithfully for 46 years,” said Rusty Durham, a longtime friend and fellow board member. “Loran is an exceptional person, very respected in the community because of his low-key approach.”

“I have never heard him complain,” said Peggy Wills, recalling the countless hours her husband spent ensuring the county had adequate healthcare.

With Wills as the hospital authority’s chairman, the hospital joined Wellstar Health System in 1994. Twenty years later, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center moved to its current facility in Hiram.

“We now have a thriving medical center with lots of specialists,” said Durham. “It’s what I would consider a world-class facility.”

In recent years, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center has received numerous awards, including the Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award, the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ PRISM award, and an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group, which recognizes its commitment to patient safety and exceptional care.

“It took a lot of hard work by a lot of people to get it done,” Wills said.

Wills recently spent a few days in the hospital as a patient.

“The people are so nice,” he said. “Every person that came in my room was just super great.”

“I just hope the hospital continues to grow,” Wills said before accepting a plaque at a recent regional hospital authority meeting. “We've got a great thing going here in Paulding, and I expect greater days in the future.”

Tags

Paulding Medical Center Media Room

Read related articles

Highlights

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Offers New Smart Robotic Orthopedic Surgery

New robotic surgical technology at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center personalizes procedures and makes joint replacement surgery even more precise.

The system uses advanced imaging and data analytics, partnered with the surgeon’s expertise, to tailor care for each patient. Using a 3D model based on a CT scan of the patient’s anatomy, surgeons can plan the implant size, placement and alignment accurately before entering the operating room. During the procedure, the robotic system uses real-time feedback to guide the surgeon’s hand and touch-sensitive boundaries to protect surrounding tissues and bones.

“This robotic technology allows our surgeons to make smaller incisions, improve the implant’s placement and operate more precisely—which all mean a smoother recovery for patients,” said Todd Kennedy, president of Wellstar Paulding.

The orthopedic surgery team at Wellstar Paulding uses the system in total hip replacements and total and partial knee replacements.

Wellstar Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Sameer Badarudeen, who has a decade of experience in robotic hip and knee replacements, was the first to use the technology at Wellstar Paulding. He said the system allows surgeons to better personalize care for each patient.

“As surgeons, we now have a much deeper understanding of optimal artificial knee placement, moving beyond the older ‘boilerplate knee’ approach that resulted in identical-looking X-rays for all patients,” Dr. Badarudeen said. “It empowers surgeons to thoroughly assess each patient's unique anatomy and then meticulously recreate the artificial knee replacement to be perfectly tailored to that individual's specific anatomy.”

Denise Fortune, whose knee was replaced using the technology, was able to go home the same day as her surgery. She had minimal pain after the procedure and now has increased mobility after several years of knee pain.

Dr. Badarudeen ensured Denise received personalized care and had the support she needed for a smooth recovery.

“I'm feeling great. I'm still going to physical therapy, and they tell me I'm ahead of where I normally would be,” Denise said.

Keep reading

Newsroom

Thomas A. Kruse Selected as Wellstar Health System’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Growth Officer

MARIETTA, Ga. (Feb. 18, 2026) – Wellstar Health System announced today that Thomas A. Kruse will join the system as its new executive vice president and chief strategy and growth officer, effective March 30. Kruse has extensive experience guiding strategy for nonprofit health systems that embark on a path of sustainable growth and top-decile performance for clinical care, quality and safety, and patient experience.

“Patient needs are changing, our communities are growing, and we must evolve right alongside them. Tom will help shape our systemwide strategy and guide how we grow in the years ahead, with a clear goal of strengthening our reputation as a destination for care across the Southeast,” said Ketul J. Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System.

Kruse will lead enterprise-level strategy and transformation, evaluate market expansion and affiliation opportunities, and drive initiatives that position Wellstar among the nation’s most respected and high-performing nonprofit health systems. He’ll partner with leaders across Wellstar and the communities it serves to identify opportunities for expansion and collaboration. Under Patel’s leadership, Wellstar will build on a strong foundation by advancing clinical excellence, strengthening academic programs and elevating quality, safety and patient experience.

“I’m honored to join Wellstar at such an important moment in its journey. The organization’s commitment to the communities it serves is inspiring. I look forward to working alongside the talented teams across the system to build on the already strong momentum and help expand access to high-quality care throughout Georgia and the Southeast,” said Kruse.

Most recently, Kruse was an independent health industry advisor and consultant for regional health systems, community hospitals and nonprofit organizations. He previously served as senior vice president and chief strategy officer for the Northwest region of CommonSpirit Health and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, where he led long-range strategy and partnership efforts that strengthened the organization and expanded its reach throughout the Pacific Northwest. The success of that work reflects Kruse’s experience as chief strategy officer for market-leading integrated health systems in highly competitive regions, including Hackensack Meridian Health, where he helped lead the creation of New Jersey's largest health system.

ABOUT WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare and it's only possible thanks to our 34,000 team members who provide expert, compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a nonprofit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and community programs and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the state of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice and is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.

Keep reading

Newsroom

Wellstar Expands Air Ambulance Program with Second Helicopter

Keep reading