HCA’s TriStar Health has named Charlotte Burns as vice president of network affiliates, effective Feb. 1, 2013.

The newly created position was established to bring senior executive focus to the affiliate relationships that TriStar hospitals have developed with independent hospitals and health systems.

A veteran health care official with more than 33 years of experience, Burns (pictured) has served since 1994 as chief executive officer of Savannah, Tenn.-based Hardin Medical Center, from which she announced her retirement earlier this month. Burns currently serves on the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency.

“With TriStar’s growing number of hospital and physician affiliates, it is essential to commit full-time leadership to these alliances to further promote the mission of improving health in the communities served,” Tim Scarvey, senior vice president of strategic planning and business development for TriStar Health, said in a release. “Charlotte brings tremendous experience as a healthcare clinician, executive, community leader and advocate for hospitals across Tennessee.”

Burns obtained her nursing degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health care administration at Kennedy-Western University.