Grady Health System announced plans on March 18 for a new medical center campus in South Fulton County, as well as changes to its leadership
According to a news release, the new campus on Campbellton Fairburn Road in Uniton City will feature a medical office building offering imaging services, a surgery center, specialty clinics, pharmacy services, rehabilitation, and a full floor dedicated to pediatric care provided by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The campus will also include a 200-bed acute care hospital with critical care, intermediate care, and acute care units. Grady anticipates that the hospital will serve as a Level 3 verified trauma center, equipped to assess, resuscitate, perform emergency surgery, and stabilize patients with serious injuries, transferring the most complex cases to higher-level trauma centers when necessary.
Construction will take place in phases, with the medical office building scheduled to open in early 2028, followed by the hospital, which is expected to open in 2031. The freestanding emergency department, opening in June 2026, will later be integrated into the new hospital, the news release said.
The project, expected to cost more than $1 billion, will be funded through a combination of sources, including $300 million in Fulton County bond funding, with the remaining funds coming from Grady financing and philanthropic support raised through a multi-year capital campaign.
Leadership transition
Grady Health System also announced a planned leadership transition as part of its long-term organizational strategy.
After 15 years leading Grady as its President and CEO, John Haupert announced his retirement at the end of 2026. Effective immediately, Anthony Saul, Grady’s current Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of President and COO, and take the helm as President and CEO on Jan. 1, 2027.
Saul is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience leading complex health systems. He joined Grady over seven years ago as Chief Financial Officer and was later appointed Chief Operating Officer.
As part of the transition, Haupert will continue to serve Grady in an advisory role through 2027, providing strategic guidance on the South Fulton medical campus and supporting philanthropic and capital fundraising efforts that will help shape the health system’s future.
The news release said demand for services continues to grow, with more than 2,000 patients relying on Grady for care each day and approximately 155,000 emergency department visits annually.