He drives a brand-new red Corvette. He went back to college two decades after becoming a doctor because he knew that with the health care industry becoming so complex, he'd need to know more about business.
He's got a black belt in karate, plays the piano and bass guitar, exercises with obsessive regularity and keeps to a rigid diet to keep his heart and body in shape.
Dr. Greg Simone, 61, no longer practices medicine, but friends such as Tim Mescon, dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, see him as a perfectionist and a role model.
"He decided to get a master's in business when he was well into middle age," Mescon said. "He figured he could use the knowledge."
Simone was in Kennesaw State's first MBA class for physicians, along with the late Dr. Robert Lipson, whom he succeeded as president and CEO of the WellStar Health System.
"It was edgy in '97, and visionary," Mescon said. "I think WellStar had 15 physicians in the inaugural class. And it was tough."
In its eight-year program, which the university ended in 2003, 115 doctors earned MBAs at KSU.
Colleagues and friends say Simone, like Lipson, has made WellStar's system into one of the best in the state.
"When one talks about quality of life in Cobb County, one must reference WellStar and the state-of-the-art medical programs available to our residents," County Commission Chairman Sam Olens said. "Dr. Simone and WellStar are leading the way. We are seriously looking at a major wellness initiative for our county due to their leadership."
Simone's personal wellness is almost an obsession.
He says he has an "intense workout" at least three times a week, practices karate and takes only a low-dose aspirin and multivitamin daily.
Simone also talks about his diet with the zeal of an evangelist.
He eats oatmeal for breakfast, but, occasionally, he has eggs. He loves turkey and other lean meats, olives, raspberries and whole-wheat bread. Simone will drink a glass of wine on occasion because it has "more antioxidants" than other alcoholic beverages.
The exercise, combined with his diet, helps him deal with the stress of running a major business, but Simone says he feels no more pressure than he did as a cardiologist.
His most painful moment occurred when Lipson died Nov. 10, 2006.
"We were home having dinner when we had the phone call," he said. "He was the best friend I ever had."
Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said WellStar had become "a great community partner" for the city, as well as an economic engine for the area.
Simone was named to replace Lipson after a six-month national search. Dunaway said "the only downside" to Simone taking over as chief executive officer was that "we have lost a wonderful cardiologist from private practice."
Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution