As Baptist Memorial Health Care transitions into full ownership of Oktibbeha County’s only hospital, the not-for-profit health care system has announced who will lead the charge.
Mac Flynt was announced Thursday as the administrator and chief executive officer at OCH Regional Medical Center, set to begin his new role on Oct. 1. Since 2023, Flynt has served in the same position but for Baptist hospitals in Attala and Yazoo counties.
“It is a great honor to join OCH Regional Medical Center’s leadership team at such an exciting time,” Flynt said in a news release. “I look forward to meeting the talented staff and collaborating with them to advance exceptional health care for the community. Together, we will make a lasting difference in the lives and health of Oktibbeha County and surrounding areas.”
Flynt has served in multiple administrative roles with Baptist since 2020. Prior to his promotion to administrator and CEO of Baptist hospitals in Attala and Yazoo counties, he was chief administrative officer of the hospitals from 2022 to 2023 and administrative director of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson from 2020 to 2022.
Flynt earned his bachelor’s degree in 2015 from Mississippi State University, where he also played on the football team. With OCH Regional Medical Center being located in Starkville and his half-decade’s worth of experience with the system, Baptist leadership feels confident he is a great fit.
“Mac Flynt is a remarkable leader and the ideal person to lead OCH Regional Medical Center’s transition to a Baptist Memorial Hospital,” said James Grantham, vice president and administrator of Mississippi Operations for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “His track leader as a leader, commitment to excellence, and experience advancing health care in central Mississippi and the Delta uniquely position him for success in this role.”
Baptist and the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors signed a definitive purchase agreement last month, allowing Baptist to buy the hospital in Starkville for $55 million. As part of the deal, Baptist also vowed to invest over $86 million into hospital facilities, technology, and physician recruitment, while offering active OCH employees in good standing a job under the new ownership.
The sale of OCH, which has been under county control since 1973, comes after an internal evaluation predicted a concerning future if it remained a government entity. Specifically, the evaluation found people living in Starkville were choosing to travel to other hospitals for specialized care, resulting in a revenue loss for OCH.
Baptist Memorial is based in Memphis, Tenn., and owns 12 hospitals in Mississippi, including in Jackson, Columbus, and Meridian. Its hospital in Oxford was recently named to the “Best Hospitals for 2025” list by Healthgrades, making it the only Mississippi hospital to be included among the top 5% in the U.S. for clinical excellence.
