Ballad Health Announces Election of New Board Member, Board Committee Members

Experienced regional and national leaders bring decades and variety of experience

At its April meeting, the Ballad Health Board of Directors took action to elect a new board member and added new talent to its audit and compliance committee.

Duane Miller

The Ballad Health Board of Directors elected Duane Miller to serve on the board, with a term beginning July 1, 2025. Miller replaces Keith Wilson, who retired from the Board after serving on the Board of Directors of Wellmont Health System, and then on the founding Board of Ballad Health. In addition to his service on the Board of Directors, Wilson also served as chair of the Board’s Governance Committee.

Miller currently serves as the executive director of the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission in Southwest Virginia. He has dedicated more than 30 years to community and economic development in Southwest Virginia. Through his professional and community service, he has helped shape regional strategy through partnerships with education, healthcare, government and private industry. He has served on a variety of boards across civic, academic and service organizations, including service as chair of the Frontier Health Board of Directors, president of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise Alumni Board of Directors, a member of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Board of Directors, Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, and many others. He has provided testimony and consultation to the Virginia General Assembly and the United States Congress on regional development needs.

“Duane Miller is known by everyone in the region as a dedicated advocate for the people throughout our region,” said Alan Levine, chairman and chief executive officer of Ballad Health. “His commitment to the quality of life in our region is profound, and he will be an exceptional contributor to the important decisions our Board of Directors will consider in the future. We are grateful for his willingness to take on this important role.”

Miller will serve as Chair of the Governance Committee of the Board, and will also serve on the Board’s Strategy and Innovation Committee.

“As the region’s largest employer and healthcare provider, the success of Ballad Health and its thousands of team member, physicians, volunteers, and most importantly, the patients it serves, is very important to me,” said Miller. “I am prepared to stand on the shoulders of the board members who came before me, and who contributed so much to our region, as we navigate the very complicated healthcare landscape. I’m proud to be a part of the Ballad Health family.”

Kyle J. Cavanaugh

With over three decades of senior leadership experience in both higher education and professional sports, Cavanaugh serves as President of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he leads the global administration for the NBA, including risk management, internal audit, IT, security and regulatory compliance. He previously held leadership roles at Duke University, the University of Florida, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was responsible for major administrative and operational functions impacting tens of thousands of employees and students.

A Brooklyn, New York, native and former collegiate athlete, Cavanaugh earned his undergraduate degree from Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn., where he played basketball before pursuing multiple advanced degrees in business and administration. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for building high-performing teams, leading organizational change, and navigating complex regulatory environments. He was also tapped to lead Duke University’s COVID-19 response, demonstrating his ability to manage crisis operations at scale. Cavanaugh has remained actively involved in community service throughout his career, supporting local nonprofits focused on education, literacy and workforce development.

“Kyle Cavanaugh has a track record of high integrity and experience navigating very complex organizations,” said Levine. “His experience will add enormously to our already highly engaged and experienced Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board. Kyle is in high demand, with great organizations like the NBA and Duke University taking advantage of his skills. We are so grateful to have him join our governance of Ballad Health.”

“The region served by Ballad Health is very important to me and my family,” said Cavanaugh. “The quality of people associated with Ballad Health, combined with the proven good stewardship of the board of directors, makes it no surprise Ballad Health has become nationally known for exceptional health care in a rural region. I’m proud to join the team!”

Chaired by Martin Kent, the chief executive officer of the United Companies and a former deputy attorney general for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the audit and compliance committee provides important oversight to ensure the integrity of Ballad Health’s financial reporting and its compliance with myriad federal and state laws and regulations. Cavanaugh’s world class experience with risk management, compliance and operational oversight adds incredible talent to Ballad Health’s serious commitment to compliance.

Keith Wilson

The Ballad Health Board of Directors expresses its sincere appreciation to Keith Wilson, who completed his term as a member of the Board of Directors. A respected newspaper industry executive, Wilson served for more than 40 years in leadership roles across Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. As Publisher of the Kingsport Times-News and later as President of the Northeast Tennessee Media Group, Wilson brought decades of communications experience and business acumen to the Ballad Health Board of Directors.

Wilson continues to serve his community through active involvement with the Foundation for Mountain Empire Community College, the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, the Kingsport Higher Education Commission and the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority.

“Keith has been a steady, thoughtful leader and a passionate advocate for the people of our region,” said Dr. Brian Noland, vice chair and lead independent director of Ballad Health and president of East Tennessee State University. “His insight and commitment to service have made a lasting impact on our board and our mission, and we are sincerely grateful for his contributions.”

The Ballad Health Board of Directors and its committees comprise unpaid leaders from across the Appalachian Highlands. In keeping with nonprofit healthcare best practices, the board rotates membership and committee assignments to ensure accountability, fresh insight and strong community representation.

“Strong governance is about more than oversight — it’s about representation, accountability and a deep connection to the people we serve,” said Noland. “With the additions of Mr. Miller and Mr. Cavanaugh, we are reinforcing our commitment to thoughtful leadership rooted in this region. Their expertise and service-oriented mindset will help guide Ballad Health through an evolving healthcare landscape, always with the needs of our Appalachian Highlands communities at the center.”