PRINCETON W.Va. (WVDN) – Becker’s Hospital Review has named Karen Bowling, President and CEO of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH), to its list of “Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know” for 2025. The list honors women across the nation who are transforming healthcare through strategic leadership, a focus on equity, and bold innovation.
Bowling, who also serves as executive vice president of government affairs for the WVU Health System, is widely recognized for her advocacy and achievements in rural medicine and public policy. Under her leadership, PCH has significantly expanded access to critical services, including oncology and cardiac care, and recently secured $64.5 million in funding for the construction of a new cancer center and a Bluefield campus that will house an emergency department and outpatient services.
As a former state cabinet secretary and current chair of the 340B Health board, Bowling brings deep experience in shaping state and national healthcare policy. Her efforts to improve Medicaid reimbursement and support safety-net hospitals have helped stabilize and strengthen rural healthcare across West Virginia. She was named a 2024 West Virginia “Wonder Woman” by WV Living Magazine and is a member of the West Virginia Healthcare Hall of Fame.
Becker’s praised this year’s honorees as leaders who are “champions of expanding care access, advancing equity and inclusion, and driving meaningful improvements in how healthcare is delivered.” The full list, which includes individual profiles of each leader, is available at Becker’s Hospital Review.
About Becker’s Healthcare
Becker’s Healthcare is the go-to source for healthcare decision-makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry. Through print, digital and live event platforms, Becker’s Healthcare equips healthcare leaders with information and forums they need to learn, exchange ideas and further conversations about the most critical issues in American healthcare today.
About WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital
WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital is leading healthcare in the two Virginias. With 420 physicians and mid-level providers, PCH operates a fully accredited 203-bed acute care medical facility, a 64-bed psychiatric hospital, and an emergency room and outpatient services facility in Bluefield. PCH operates six primary care clinics, 10 specialty clinics, and three rural imaging clinics offering a wide range of care to a 10-county region.
