NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Michael W. Browder has joined Essent Healthcare as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Previously senior vice president and chief financial officer for TMC Healthcare in Tucson, Ariz., Browder will be responsible for all traditional corporate financial functions including routine reporting and capital structure development. Additionally, he will be involved in information systems development, risk management and detailed acquisition support functions including due diligence.

"Mike brings exceptional talent to the Essent team," said W. Hudson Connery Jr., president and CEO of Essent Healthcare. "His knowledge of health care and corporate finance will be an essential resource as Essent continues to grow."

Browder spent two years at TMC HealthCare, a network with Arizona's second largest hospital, the Tucson Medical Center, at its core. Prior to TMC, Browder served six years as vice president of financial operations for Health Management Associates, Inc. There, he was responsible for overseeing financial operations of 32 hospitals. Browder began his career at Ernst & Young in Atlanta, where he served as audit senior manager, audit manager and audit staff.

"I admire Essent's goal to preserve solid, reliable healthcare in small communities and I look forward to being a part of this growing company," said Browder.

Browder earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Accounting from the University of Georgia's J.M. Tull School of Accounting in 1984. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Arizona chapter.

Essent Healthcare is a hospital company founded through a partnership between Connery, the former chief operating officer for HealthTrust, and Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, one of the nation's leading venture capital firms. The company is headquartered in Nashville.

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