By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
Two healthcare leaders from the Wiregrass have been selected to serve in key leadership roles with the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA), reflecting decades of experience and continued involvement in advancing healthcare across the state.
Vernon Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Dale Medical Center in Ozark, has been elected to serve as the Immediate Past Chair of the AlaHA Board of Trustees after completing his term as board chair for 2025-2026.
Johnson has led Dale Medical Center since 2003 after previously serving as the hospital’s assistant administrator. His healthcare career spans more than four decades, beginning as a registered respiratory therapist before moving into hospital administration.
Throughout his career, Johnson has held numerous leadership positions within the Alabama Hospital Association, including Southeast Regional Council president, secretary-treasurer, and chair-elect. He has also contributed to healthcare policy through service as chair of the Alabama Board of Respiratory Therapy and as a member of the Medical Equipment Licensure Board.
Johnson earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Troy State University in Dothan, and an associate degree in respiratory therapy from Wallace College in Dothan.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Johnson has remained active in civic and charitable organizations throughout the Wiregrass. His community service has included leadership roles with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, Wiregrass United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, Wallace Community College’s nursing advisory board, the Ozark Rotary Club, the Dale County Relay for Life, the Alabama Trauma System Advisory Board, the Alabama Hospital Association Rural Constituency Committee, and the Alabama Hospital Quality Task Force. He also serves as a deacon and choir member at Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
Johnson is married to his wife, Lourie Lambert Johnson, and together they have three children. Since healthcare can often be a stressful and difficult occupation, Johnson has a unique way of keeping things light. He has often summarized his outlook on life with the phrase, “Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.”
Jeff Brannon, vice president of business development at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, has been re-elected as the Alabama Hospital Association delegate to the organization’s Board of Trustees. In addition to that role, Brannon will also serve as a member-at-large on the board.
Brannon has spent more than 35 years working in Alabama’s healthcare industry. Before assuming his current position overseeing business development at Flowers Hospital, he served as the hospital’s chief executive officer.
The Alabama Hospital Association represents hospitals and health systems throughout the state and advocates for policies that strengthen patient care, improve healthcare quality, and support Alabama’s healthcare workforce. The organization’s Board of Trustees provides leadership and guidance on issues affecting hospitals and communities across Alabama.
