The founding member of WellStar Health System’s board of trustees, Charles “Pete” Wood, received the Georgia Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award last week for his role in achieving several healthcare milestones over the past five decades.

Wood began his healthcare service in 1962, and was a founding member of the Cobb Hospital Authority. He also helped establish Cobb General Hospital in 1968, and helped with the merger of several facilities that became WellStar Health System. He joined the WellStar board in 1997.