Leadership: NEA Baptist

Jonesboro, Arkansas 

Sam Lynd, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer 

Responsibilities: Overall executive management of the hospital. A native Memphian, Sam Lynd was most recently the chief operating officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis and the administrator of Baptist’s emergency services systemwide. He joined Baptist Memorial Health Care as a Frank S. Groner administrative fellow in 2011 and was an associate administrator at two Baptist Memorial hospitals before becoming the administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton in 2014. Lynd holds a Master of Science in health administration, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Bachelor of Science in healthcare management from the University of Alabama. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Melanie Edens, Chief Operating Officer

Responsibilities: As Chief Operating Officer for the NEA Baptist Health System, Edens has operational responsibility for all NEA Baptist Clinic operations. Formerly Associate Administrator, Edens is also responsible for operations in various departments within the hospital.  Edens has been a member of the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital team since 1998, previously serving as Director of Radiology services. Edens has been recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Related Professions and the ACHE’s Early Career Award for Healthcare Executives. She earned a BS in Radiologic Sciences from Arkansas State University in 2000 and an MBA in 2020. Edens has been involved in several community and civic organizations, including the 2015 class of Leadership Jonesboro.

Paula Grimes, Chief Nursing Officer

Responsibilities: Planning, implementing, directing and controlling activities and operations in nursing and rehabilitation services, as well as inpatient care areas on the main hospital campus and at the Surgical Hospital of Jonesboro. Grimes holds a bachelor’s degree in science and nursing from Arkansas State University and a master’s degree of science in nursing from the University of Phoenix.

Kyle Sanders, Chief Financial Officer 

Responsibilities: Management of patient financial services, patient registration, health information management, materials management, and the hospital's financial planning and budget processes. He also serves as the chief privacy and compliance officer for the hospital. Sanders holds a bachelor of science in finance and an MBA from Arkansas State University.