Piedmont Athens Regional recently announced changes to its Board of Directors. Chris Bostdorff, M.D., Johnelle Simpson, II, and Neil Stevens have been appointed to the board and will begin serving their three-year terms in October.

Board Chair Cheryl Leggett, and members David Sailors, M.D., and Sammy Thomason each concluded their terms on the board 

“I am incredibly grateful to Cheryl, Sammy, and Dr. Sailors for their support and guidance during their time on the Board,” said Piedmont Athens CEO Michael Burnett. “On behalf of the entire Piedmont Athens team, I want to thank them for everything they’ve done to help the hospital grow to meet the needs of our patients. I’m also excited to welcome Dr. Bostdorff, Johnelle, and Neil to the board. They each bring a unique set of skills and diverse perspectives to the table and will be great additions to our board.” 

Dr. Bostdorff is an Emergency Medicine physician at Piedmont Athens Regional. He joined Piedmont Athens after completing his Emergency Medicine residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Bostdorff is a graduate of the University of Florida and attended medical school at the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and sits on the Piedmont Athens Trauma Care Committee, the Blood Utilization Committee, the Critical Care Committee, and the Medical Staff Quality Committee. An avid sports fan, he has also presented on Emergency Care in Sports and Abdominal Trauma at the Sports Medicine Conference at the University of Georgia. 

Johnelle Simpson, II, an attorney at Fortson, Bentley & Griffin, practices in personal injury, probate litigation, guardianships/conservatorships, business and commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and general civil litigation. A native of Donalsonville, Ga., Simpson attended the University of Georgia, where he served as the student body president. He then attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2021. Before attending law school, Simpson worked with Athens-area schools, businesses, and local officials in developing and implementing workforce development programs and initiatives. He is an active member of the Athens Jaycees and serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of Athens, the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Northeast Georgia, the Georgia

4-H Foundation, and Lydia’s Place.

Neil Stevens is the President and CEO of Oconee State Bank, and an accomplished banker, speaker, community leader, brand strategist, and fitness enthusiast. He is passionate about creating a positive impact on others through servant leadership, which he has demonstrated through his work with numerous civic and charitable organizations such as Mercy Health Center, Classic City Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Oconee Rotary Club, the Athens Chamber of Commerce, and others. Stevens is a visionary who inspires growth, drives direction, and helps others achieve their personal and professional goals. 

To learn more about Piedmont Athens Regional, visit piedmont.org/Athens.