Charlotte’s Advocate Health’s top executives earned more than $55.5 million in 2024, according to newly released filings from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority. The compensation marks a $16.4 million jump from the previous year, even as many Charlotte residents struggle with rising insurance premiums, higher deductibles, and record-high medical debt.
CEO Gene Woods’ Pay Climbs to $25.8 Million
Advocate CEO Gene Woods received $25.8 million in total compensation last year — a 49% increase from 2023, according to ProPublica.
His package included:
-
$4.6 million in base salary
-
$14.4 million in bonuses
-
$6.7 million in incentives
Woods was the system’s second-highest paid leader behind former co-CEO James Skogsbergh, who collected $30.8 million, largely tied to retirement benefits.
Across the entire organization, Advocate spent $115.9 million on executive compensation in 2024.
Executive Pay Rises as Medical Bills Climb
The compensation disclosures come at a time when Charlotte families are experiencing some of the fastest-rising health-care costs in the Southeast:
-
Hospital prices in North Carolina have climbed sharply over the past decade.
-
Charlotte residents now face higher-than-average ER charges, imaging costs, and surgical fees.
-
Employers across the region cite Atrium’s rates as a driving factor behind premium increases.
Advocate’s leadership says its pay is benchmarked against large national health systems and reviewed by its governing board, but critics argue that soaring executive salaries stand in stark contrast to growing financial strain on patients.
Advocate’s Footprint in Charlotte
Advocate Health, formed in 2022 after the merger of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health, is now the third-largest health system in the nation with 155,000 employees. Charlotte serves as its headquarters and home to major expansions, including:
-
A second campus of Wake Forest School of Medicine
-
The Pearl Innovation District, now under construction
In 2024, the system said it invested $387 million into wage increases for non-executive staff and $6.2 billion into community health programs nationwide.
Top Atrium-Linked Earners in 2024
-
Gene Woods — $25,781,275
-
Ken Haynes — $5,073,340
-
Dr. Scott Rissmiller — $4,029,199
-
Brett Denton — $3,867,971
-
Carol Lovin — $3,608,427
-
Dr. Rasu Shrestha — $3,287,435
-
Brad Clark — $2,831,292
-
Michael Parkerson — $2,449,362
-
Kinneil Coltman — $2,333,488
-
Andy Crowder — $2,298,750
Local Impact
For Charlotte residents, the report intensifies an ongoing debate: how can a nonprofit health system award tens of millions in executive pay during the same year families report higher medical debt, steeper premiums, and rising out-of-pocket costs?
As Advocate continues to expand its presence and influence across the region, many local leaders say the question of affordability — not executive compensation — remains the most urgent issue facing patients in the Carolinas.
