Former Carilion CEO has died following battle with cancer

Dr. Edward Murphy spent 13 years at Carilion

ROANOKE, Va. – The former president and CEO of Carilion Clinic has died. 

Dr. Edward G. Murphy died Sunday following a battle with cancer. 

Dr. Murphy spent 13 years at Carilion. He joined Carilion in 1998 as executive vice president and chief operating officer and was named president and chief executive officer in 2001. 

Carilion sent out this statement: "Dr. Murphy will be missed by the many who worked with him, and his imprint on our community will be felt for generations to come."

Here's the full statement from Nancy Howell Agee, president and CEO of Carilion Clinic, and Cynda A. Johnson, president and founding dean, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine:

Sadly, we share the news of the passing of Dr. Edward G. Murphy, former president and chief executive officer of Carilion Clinic. He passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, following a valiant battle with cancer. 

Dr. Murphy spent 13 years at Carilion and presided over some of the more dynamic moments in our organization’s history – our transition from a system of hospitals to a physician-led clinic and creation of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute. He joined Carilion in 1998 as executive vice president and chief operating officer and was named president and chief executive officer in 2001. 

Dr. Murphy was a visionary leader without whom our medical school would not be here today. He imagined a new medical school, teaming up with Charles Steger, then President of Virginia Tech, to make it a reality. A decade later, his dream is still making an impact as the Virginia Tech Carilion partnership continues to evolve and grow. 

On his last day as president and CEO in 2011, he offered his thoughts on the future: “As we look down the road, healthcare will no doubt face more than its share of challenges. However, the work we do, caring for our neighbors and our community often in times of their greatest need is truly important. It makes it well worth dealing with all the challenges and complexity we face every day. Given the extraordinary collection of people we have here, I am confident that the community’s healthcare is in good hands today and will remain so far into the future.” 

Dr. Murphy will be missed by the many who worked with him, and his imprint on our community will be felt for generations to come.