Meet Gary Campbell

When Gary Campbell took a job at Johnson Health Center in 2011, he never imagined he was stepping into a calling that would define his career and change his life. 

“I really just took the job to get back home, honestly,” he said. 

After years in human resources at global companies like Bayer, Campbell returned to Lynchburg for family and stumbled upon a mission that would capture his heart.

Campbell did not start out aiming to be a CEO. A self-described "late bloomer," he did not attend his first college class until he was 24. His career in human resources eventually led him to Pittsburgh, where he "cut [his] teeth on being exposed to a global culture and community of people and professional development." 

That experience, he said, "ultimately led me back to Lynchburg."

At Johnson Health Center, Campbell quickly moved from Director of Human Resources to Chief Operations Officer. It was during these early days that he realized the community he was now serving. 

"I remember going up to the front desk one day, probably about a year and a half after I was there, and I recognized two names. I said, 'Yeah, I know those people.' And the staff said, 'Well, you might not recognize them now.'" 

Seeing the toll poor health choices had taken on people he once knew hit him personally.

"At that moment, it hit me, these are people I did life with," he said.

Another moment sealed the deal. Campbell recalled being called into a patient room to support a nurse practitioner struggling to get a teenage patient to comply with life-saving treatment. 

“I just remember getting on their level and talking about how important it was and next thing I know, both of them are crying," he said.

It was that moment, he said, that made him realize, "I'm where I'm supposed to be."

Campbell became interim CEO in August 2014 and officially took the reins in February 2015. 

From day one, he had one simple but ambitious goal: “I made one commitment to our staff: we would become an Employer of Choice.” 

In 2016, Johnson Health Center achieved that, becoming the first federally qualified health center to be certified by the Employer of Choice organization.

Growth followed. When Campbell started, Johnson Health Center had 64 employees and served 12,000 patients. Today, the center employs around 270 people and serves nearly 30,000 patients. 

“We built our credibility within the community," he said. "We really wanted to be a partner to all of the community."

But Campbell's vision extends beyond just expansion.

 "One of the main things is we built a fitness and wellness center into this new building," he said. 

With over 200 staff and patients enrolled already, Campbell believes initiatives like this will become a crucial part of the future of healthcare delivery.

He’s also enthusiastic about expanding access to urgent care services and establishing Johnson Health Center as a teaching health center. 

"I want to make sure we don't discount the importance of exercise and nutrition in care models," he said.

Campbell’s approach to leadership has been shaped by personal mentors and a commitment to servant leadership. After reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann, Campbell said, “It helped me align all my thoughts around adding value to people's lives.” 

He launched Impact2Lead, a leadership model and consulting practice that now allows him to work with organizations across the country. 

“I get to consult and speak all over the country, help organizations with strategic planning, leadership development, and executive coaching,” he said.

Locally, he also leads the monthly Impact Leadership Breakfast Club at Market on Main, blending leadership, networking, and faith.

“We get anywhere from 20 to 50 people a pop. It’s been a really great experience for a lot of people,” he said.

Outside of his professional life, Campbell is a family man with a love for fitness and senior softball. 

“My family is important. We do a lot of things together, and my faith is important as well,” he said. “It’s just really trying to carve out time for family and now still play softball."

He’s even ventured into small business ownership, becoming a minority owner in Mellow Mushroom and Playa Bowls alongside his son. 

“He works a lot harder than I do,” Campbell joked. “I’m more of an advisor to him.”

As Johnson Health Center looks ahead to new opportunities, Campbell remains committed to the values that first captured his heart over a decade ago: serving others, unleashing potential, and making a meaningful impact. 

“We’re not perfect,” he said, “But we’re always working to do better and to be better for the people we serve.”