Terrence Purcell, who served as St. Luke’s Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton hospitals president, will join Lehigh Valley Health Network as Vice President, Market Development, LVHN announced today.

“Purcell has deep roots in Carbon County, and is passionate about serving his community,” LVHN Senior Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer Edward Dougherty said. “He will be a tremendous steward and leader as LVHN continues to expand its patient care in that region.”

In this newly created role, the Mahanoy City native will guide growth and development initiatives for LVHN in Carbon, Schuylkill and Luzerne Counties. LVHN assumed ownership of two Schuylkill Health System hospitals in September 2016 and continues to expand its services and access to care in the area, including new specialty services in Carbon County.

Purcell began his career in human resources at Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville, today known as LVH-Schuylkill E. Norwegian St.

He joined Blue Mountain Health System as vice president of operations in 2006 and was named president in January after its merger with St. Luke’s University Health Network.

“The patients and doctors in this region naturally gravitate to LVHN for its high quality care close to Carbon County,” Purcell said. “I am looking forward to being part of the team.”

Throughout his career, Purcell has served many community organizations, including Hospital Central Services, East Central Area Health Education Center, Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties Workforce Investment Board, Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties MS/MDS Arbitration Board and Mahanoy Area School Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wilkes University and his MBA from Bloomsburg University.

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes eight hospital campuses - three in Allentown including the region’s only facility dedicated to orthopedic surgery, one in Bethlehem, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton and two in Pottsville, Pa.; 26 health centers caring for communities in seven counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices and 18 ExpressCARE locations throughout the region.