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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is
made by and between SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC., an Ohio corporation
("SunLink") and HARRY R. ALVIS, an individual resident of Georgia (the
"Executive"), as of the 1st day of February, 2002 (the "Effective Date").

         SunLink desires to employ the Executive and the Executive is willing to
serve SunLink and its subsidiaries in an executive capacity on the terms and
conditions herein provided.

         In consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants contained
herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound, hereby amend and restate the Employment Agreement dated as of January 1,
2001 (the "2001 Agreement") between the Executive and SunLink's subsidiary,
SunLink Healthcare Corp., to hereafter read as follows and agree that as of the
Effective Date:

                  1.       Employment. SunLink shall employ the Executive, and
the Executive shall serve, as Chief Operating Officer of SunLink and as
Executive Vice President--Operations of SunLink Healthcare Corp., or in such
other capacity at SunLink or its subsidiaries as may from time to time be
designated by SunLink's Board of Directors, upon the terms and conditions set
forth herein. The Executive shall have such authority and responsibilities
consistent with his position and which may be set forth in the bylaws of SunLink
and/or designated to him by the Board of Directors from time to time. The
Executive shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and efforts to
the performance of his duties hereunder, except during periods of illness or
periods of vacation and leaves of absence consistent with SunLink company
policy.

                  2.       Term. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein,
the Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be for a term (the "Fixed
Term") ending June 30, 2004. Unless at least 60 days written notice of
non-renewal shall have been given to Executive by SunLink or by Executive to
SunLink prior to the end of the Fixed Term that Executive's employment will not
be continued beyond the Fixed Term, the Executive's term of employment under
this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for an additional period of twelve
months (the "Extended Term").

                  3.       Compensation and Benefits.

                           a.       SunLink shall pay the Executive a salary at
a rate of (i) $190,800 per annum effective February 1, 2002 through August 31,
2002 and (ii) $199,000 per annum effective September 1, 2002 and thereafter, in
each case in accordance with the salary payment practices of SunLink. The Board
of Directors of SunLink shall review the Executive's salary at least annually
and may increase the Executive's base salary if it determines in its sole
discretion that an increase is appropriate.
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                           b.       The Executive shall participate in a
management incentive program and shall be eligible to receive bonus payments of
up to fifty percent (50%) of Executive's annual base salary based upon criteria
that the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of SunLink
shall establish from time to time pursuant to that program.

                           c.       The compensation payable by SunLink to
Executive hereunder shall be inclusive of compensation for all services rendered
by Executive to SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp. and their respective
subsidiaries and Executive shall have no separate right of compensation from
SunLink or any such subsidiary other than the right to be indemnified as an
officer of any such subsidiary under the corporate bylaws thereof and/or insured
under any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by
SunLink or such subsidiary.

                  4.       Stock Options and Other Benefits.

                           a.       SunLink has granted or shall grant to
Executive, five-year options to purchase a total of 75,000 shares of the common
stock of SunLink. Such grant is or shall be effective as of the date of grant as
determined by the Board of Directors of SunLink. The options granted or to be
granted pursuant and subject to such stock option plan were approved by
SunLink's shareholders at their 2001 annual meeting at an exercise price per
share equal to the closing sale price of SunLink's common stock on the American
Stock Exchange (or such other exchange or system where such Shares are listed)
as of the date of grant. The options so granted shall vest 25% one the first
through fourth anniversaries of the date of grant.

                           b.       In addition to participating in the option
plan pursuant to Section 4(a), Executive shall during the term of Executive's
employment be eligible to participate in any additional employee stock option
plan or arrangement adopted by SunLink which includes senior SunLink officers
and to receive additional grants of options under such plans in such numbers and
at such exercise prices as the Board of Directors of SunLink shall determine in
its discretion.

                           c.       The Executive shall participate in all
retirement, welfare, deferred compensation, life and health insurance, and other
benefit plans or programs (exclusive of those benefits referenced in Sections
4(e), 4(f), 4(g.), and 4(h) of the 2001 Agreement) of SunLink now or hereafter
applicable to a class of employees that includes senior executives of SunLink on
such basis as the Board of Directors of SunLink shall from time to time
determine; provided, however, that during which the Executive is subject to a
Disability, and during the 90-day period of physical or mental infirmity leading
up to the Executive's Disability, the amount of the Executive's compensation
provided under this Section 4 shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if
any, paid to the Executive for the same period under any disability benefit or
pension plan of SunLink, SunLink or any subsidiary thereof.

                           d.       SunLink shall provide supplemental term life
insurance coverage equal to $300,000.


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                           e.       The Executive shall receive twenty (20) days
paid vacation each year. Unused vacation may not be carried over to subsequent
years.

                  5.       Termination.

                           a.       The Executive's employment under this
Agreement and his offices and positions with SunLink may be terminated prior to
the end of the Fixed Term only as follows:

                                    (i)      automatically upon the death of the

         Executive;

                                    (ii)     by SunLink due to the Disability of
         the Executive upon ninety (90) days written notice and delivery of a
         Notice of Termination to the Executive;

                                    (iii)    by SunLink for Cause upon delivery
         of a Notice of Termination to the Executive;

                                    (iv)     by either party for any reason upon
         90 days notice to the other party.

Any termination of Executive's employment by SunLink shall also constitute the
concurrent termination of such Executive's employment and offices with SunLink
and any other subsidiary of SunLink.

                           b.       If the Executive's employment with SunLink
shall be terminated during the Fixed Term or the Extended Term (i) by reason of
the Executive's death, or (ii) by SunLink for Disability or Cause, SunLink shall
pay to the Executive (or in the case of his death, the Executive's estate)
within thirty days after the Termination Date a lump sum cash payment equal to
the Accrued Compensation.

                           c.       If the Executive's employment with SunLink
shall be early terminated by SunLink other than for (i) Disability, (ii) Cause
or (iii) pursuant to Section 5(d) below, Executive shall

                                    (A)      in the case of any such termination
                  by SunLink during the Fixed Term, receive severance payments
                  equal to the lesser of (x) twelve (12) months salary or (y)
                  the salary for the remaining number of months in the Fixed
                  Term, or

                                    (B)      in the case of any such termination
                  by SunLink during the Extended Term, receive severance
                  payments equal to the lesser of (x) six (6) months salary or
                  (y) the salary for the remaining number of months in the
                  Extended Term,

(minus, in each such case, applicable withholdings), paid in accordance with the
normal payroll schedule of SunLink, a pro rata portion of any annual bonus for
which goals have been proportionately met, and continuation of the benefits set
forth in Sections 4(c), 4(d) and 4(e), for

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sixty (60) days following termination. If any such payment is not delivered,
mailed by first class mail or sent by commercial courier service to Executive at
the most recent address provided by Executive within thirty (30) days after
being due, the entire balance shall, at the option of the Executive, immediately
be due and payable.

                           d.       If the Executive's employment is early
terminated by Executive or by SunLink for any reason other than for Cause
(exclusive of Cause referred to in clause (iii) of Section 22(d)) within one (1)
year after a Change in Control, Executive shall, in lieu of any payment under
Sections 5(b) or 5(c), (i) receive severance payments equal to twelve (12)
months base salary (minus applicable withholdings), paid in accordance with the
normal payroll schedule of the company, (ii) receive Accrued Compensation,
including without limitation, a pro rata portion of any annual bonus for which
goals have been proportionately met, (iii) receive the balance of any other
benefits set forth in sections 4(c), 4(d) and 4(e) for ninety (90) days
following termination, and (iv) Executive's unvested stock options shall vest,
and shall be exercisable pursuant to the terms of the applicable stock option
plan and agreement. If any such payment is not delivered, mailed by first class
mail or sent by commercial courier service to Executive at the most recent
address provided by Executive within thirty (30) days after being due, the
entire balance shall, at the option of Executive, immediately be due and
payable.

                           e.       The severance pay and benefits provided for
in this Section 5 shall be in lieu of any other severance or termination pay to
which the Executive may otherwise be entitled under any Company severance or
termination plan, program, practice or arrangement, but shall not be in lieu of
any additional benefits to which Executive may be entitled under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ("COBRA"). The Executive's
entitlement to any other compensation or benefits shall be determined by the
Board of Directors of SunLink or the Chief Executive Officer of SunLink in
accordance with SunLink's employee benefit plans and other applicable programs,
policies and practices then in effect.

                           f.       Clause (ii) of Section 5(a) shall not be
effective or invoked by SunLink upon any Change in Control or within one (1)
year thereafter.

                           g.       Any notice by SunLink to Executive or by
Executive to SunLink of non-renewal given as contemplated by Section 2 shall not
be deemed to be a termination of Executive's employment for the purposes of
Section 5(b) or (c).

                  6.       Indemnification. SunLink agrees to indemnify, save
and hold Executive harmless from all losses, expenses, damages, liabilities,
obligations, claims and costs of any kind (including reasonable attorneys' fees
and other legal costs and expenses) that Executive may at any time suffer or
incur by reason of any claims, actions or suits brought or threatened to be
brought against Executive by any person or entity, as a result of or in
connection with Executive's service as an officer, employee or director of
SunLink or as an employee, officer or director of any of its subsidiaries, or
any entity that in the future becomes a subsidiary or affiliate of SunLink,
except that no indemnification shall be made if Executive's action or failure to
act involved an act or omission undertaken in bad faith or with intent to cause
injury to SunLink, SunLink or any of their subsidiaries or was undertaken with
reckless disregard for the best interest of SunLink, SunLink or


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any of their subsidiaries. The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive
termination of Executive's employment under this Agreement.

                  7.       Trade Secrets. The Executive shall not, at any time,
either during the term of his employment or after the Termination Date, use or
disclose any Trade Secrets of SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp. or any of their
subsidiaries, as defined herein, except in fulfillment of his duties as the
Executive during his employment, for so long as the pertinent information or
data remain Trade Secrets, whether or not the Trade Secrets are in written or
tangible form.

                  8.       Protection of Other Confidential Information.
Executive recognizes the interest of SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp. or their
subsidiaries in maintaining the confidential nature of their proprietary and
other business and commercial information. In connection therewith, Executive
covenants that during the term of Executive's employment under this Agreement,
and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter, Executive will not,
directly or indirectly, except as necessary to perform Executive's duties for
SunLink, publish, disclose or use any Confidential Information of SunLink.
"Confidential Information" shall mean any internal, non-public information
(other than Trade Secrets already addressed above) concerning SunLink's, SunLink
Healthcare Corp.'s (or of any subsidiary of either thereof) financial position
and results of operations (including revenues, assets, net income, etc.);
pricing structure; annual and long-range business plans; product or service
plans; marketing plans and methods; training, educational and administrative
manuals; customer and supplier information and purchase histories; and employee
lists. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 shall be sufficient to protect Trade
Secrets and Confidential Information of third parties provided to SunLink,
SunLink Healthcare Corp. or any of their subsidiaries under an obligation of
secrecy.

                  9.       Return of Materials. Executive shall surrender to
SunLink, promptly upon request and in any event upon termination of Executive's
employment with SunLink, all media, documents, notebooks, computer programs,
handbooks, data files, models, samples, price lists, drawings, customer lists,
prospect data, or other material of any nature whatsoever (in tangible or
electronic form) in Executive's possession or control, including all copies
thereof, relating to SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp. or any of their
subsidiaries, or their business, or their customers. Upon the request of
SunLink, Executive shall certify in writing compliance with the foregoing
requirement.

                  10.      Non-Solicitation of Customers. During the term of
this Agreement and for a period of twenty-four (24) months after termination of
Executive's employment with SunLink for any reason, Executive shall not directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise, solicit or
attempt to solicit any Customers or to induce or encourage them to acquire or
obtain from any individual or entity other than SunLink or its subsidiaries, any
healthcare or other service or product competitive with or substitute for any
Company service or product. For purposes of this Section, a "Customer" refers to
any patient, person or group of persons with whom Executive had direct material
contact with regard to the selling, delivery of healthcare services or products,
including servicing such person's or group's account, during the period of
twelve (12) months preceding termination of Executive's employment; and
"services or products" refers to the


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healthcare services and/or products that SunLink and/or its subsidiaries
performed, offered or provided within six (6) months of the date of termination
of Executive's employment.

                  11.      Non-Solicitation of Executives or Medical Staff.
During the term of this Agreement and for a period of eighteen (18) months after
termination of employment with SunLink for any reason, Executive shall not,
alone or in concert with others, solicit or induce any (i) employee of SunLink,
or SunLink Healthcare Corp. or any of their subsidiaries, to leave the employ of
SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp. or such subsidiary or recruit or attempt to
recruit such person to accept employment with another business or (ii) medical
staff member, physician or nursing, of SunLink or any subsidiary of SunLink to
leave the medical staff of any hospital or healthcare facility owned or operated
by SunLink or any subsidiary thereof or to serve on the staff of any other
hospital or healthcare facility or recruit or attempt to recruit such person to
serve on the staff of any other hospital or healthcare facility.

                  12.      No Denigration. Executive will not at any time
denigrate, ridicule or intentionally criticize SunLink, SunLink Healthcare Corp.
or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their respective services,
products, properties, employees, officers or directors, including without
limitation, by way of news interviews, or the expression of personal views,
opinions or judgments to the news media.

                  13.      Successors; Binding Agreement.

                           a.       This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of SunLink, its Successors and Assigns.

                           b.       Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Executive, his
beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's legal personal representative.

                  14.      Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices
and all other communications provided for in the Agreement (including the Notice
of Termination) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when personally delivered or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses last given by each party
to the other; provided, however, that all notices to SunLink shall be directed
to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer of SunLink. All notices and
communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivered.

                  15.      Modification and Waiver. No provisions of this
Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification
or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and SunLink. No
waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto
of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be
performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar
provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.


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                  16.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia
without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

                  17.      Arbitration. Any controversy or claim against either
party arising from, out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach thereof
(other than controversies or claims arising from, out of or relating to the
provisions in Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 above, which may be litigated in a
court of competent jurisdiction), or the employment or termination thereof of
Executive by SunLink which would give rise to a claim under federal, state or
local law (including but not limited to claims based in tort or contract, claims
for discrimination under state or federal law, and/or claims for violation of
any federal, state or local law, statute or regulation) ("Claims") shall be
submitted to an impartial mediator ("Mediator") selected jointly by the parties.
Both parties shall attend a mediation conference and attempt to resolve any and
all Claims. If they are not able to resolve all Claims, any unresolved Claims,
including any dispute as to whether a matter constitutes a Claim which must be
submitted to arbitration, shall be determined by final and binding arbitration
in Atlanta, Georgia in accordance with the Model Employment Dispute Resolution
Rules ("Rules") of the American Arbitration Association, by an experienced
arbitrator licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia in accordance with
the Rules. The arbitrator shall be selected by alternate striking from a list of
six arbitrators, half of which shall be supplied by SunLink and half by
Executive. The party not initiating the arbitration shall strike first. The
process shall be repeated twice until an arbitrator is selected. If an
arbitrator is still not selected, the Mediator shall provide a list of three
names which will be alternately struck, with the party initiating the
arbitration striking first, until a selection is made.

         A demand for arbitration shall be made within a reasonable time after
the Claim has arisen. In no event shall the demand for arbitration be made after
the date when institution of legal and/or equitable proceedings based on such
Claim would be barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Each party to
the arbitration will be entitled to be represented by counsel and will have the
opportunity to take one deposition of an opposing party or witness before the
arbitration hearing. By mutual agreement of the parties, additional depositions
may be taken. The arbitrator shall have the authority to hear and grant a motion
to dismiss and/or for summary judgment, applying the standards governing such
motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Each party shall have the
right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration hearing. A court
reporter shall record all arbitration proceedings.

         With respect to any Claim brought to arbitration hereunder, either
party may be entitled to recover whatever damages would otherwise be available
to that party in any legal proceeding based upon the federal and/or state law
applicable to the matter and as specified by Section 16 except that no punitive,
special or exemplary damages shall be awardable. The decision of the arbitrator
may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by SunLink or
Executive. Each party shall pay the fees of their respective attorneys, the
expenses of their witnesses and any other expenses connected with presenting
their Claim or defense (except as otherwise awarded by the arbitrator). Except
as otherwise awarded by the arbitrator, other costs of the arbitration,
including the fees of the Mediator, the arbitrator, the cost of any record or
transcript of the arbitration, administrative fees, and other fees and costs,
shall be borne equally by Executive and SunLink and paid promptly as incurred.
Should Executive or SunLink pursue any dispute or matter covered by


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this Section by any method other than said arbitration, the responding party
shall be entitled to recover from the other party all damages, costs, expenses,
and attorneys' fees incurred as a result of such action. The provisions
contained in this Section 17 shall survive the termination and/or expiration of
this Agreement.

         The parties indicate their acceptance of the foregoing arbitration
requirement by initialing below:

          /s/ Robert M. Thornton, Jr. CEO     /s/ Harry Alvis
          -------------------------------     -------------------------------
          For SunLink                         Executive

                  18.      Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

                  19.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements,
if any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as modified herein, any
existing stock option agreement between Executive and SunLink shall remain in
full force and effect.

                  20.      Headings. The headings of Sections herein are
included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning
or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

                  21.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  22.      Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

                           a.       "Accrued Compensation" shall mean an amount
which shall include all amounts earned or accrued through the Termination Date
but not paid as of the Termination Date including (i) base salary, (ii)
reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on
behalf of SunLink during the period ending on the Termination Date, and (iii)
bonuses and incentive compensation.

                           b.       "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.

                           c.       "Base Amount" shall mean the greater of the
Executive's annual base salary (i) at the rate in effect on the Termination Date
or (ii) at the highest rate in effect at any time during the twelve (12) month
period prior to the Change in Control, and shall include any amounts of his base
salary that are deferred under the qualified and non-qualified employee benefit
plans of SunLink or any other agreement or arrangement.


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                           d.       The termination of the Executive's
employment shall be for "Cause" if it is a result of:

                                    (i)      any act that (A) constitutes, on
         the part of the Executive, fraud, dishonesty, malfeasance of duty, or
         conduct inappropriate to the Executive's office, and (B) is likely to,
         or any reasonably be expected to, lead to material injury to SunLink or
         resulted or was intended to result in direct or indirect gain to or
         personal enrichment of the Executive; or

                                    (ii)     the conviction of the Executive of
         a felony; or

                                    (iii)    Executive's failure to perform his
         job duties to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors of SunLink or
         of SunLink Healthcare Corp., as determined by a two thirds majority
         vote;

provided, however, that in the case of clause (iii) above, such conduct shall
not constitute Cause unless SunLink shall have first given Executive written
notice of such Cause and thirty (30) days to cure such Cause to the satisfaction
of the Board of Directors of SunLink.

                           e.       "Change in Control" shall mean the
occurrence during the Fixed Term or any Extended Term of any of the following
events:

                                    (iv)     An acquisition (other than directly
         from SunLink) of any voting securities of that company (the "Voting
         Securities") by any "Person" (as the term person is used for purposes
         of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
         "1934 Act")) immediately after which such Person has "Beneficial
         Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934
         Act) of 40% or more of the combined voting power of SunLink's then
         outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that in determining
         whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are
         acquired in a "Non-Control Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall
         not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A
         "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee
         benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (x)
         SunLink or (y) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of
         its voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned
         directly or indirectly by SunLink (a "subsidiary"), (2) the company or
         any subsidiary, or (3) any Person in connection with a "Non-Control
         Transaction" (as hereinafter defined).

                                    (v)      The individuals who, as of the date
         of this Agreement, are members of the Board of SunLink (the "Incumbent
         Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the
         Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for
         election by that company's stockholders, of any new director was
         approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, such
         new director shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a
         member of the Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no
         individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such


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<PAGE>

         individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or
         threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated
         under the 1934 Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of
         proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a
         "Proxy Contest") including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid
         or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest; or

                           (vi)     Approval by stockholders of SunLink of:

                                    (A)      (1) A merger, consolidation or
                                             reorganization involving SunLink,
                                             unless

                                    (x)      the stockholders of SunLink,
                                             immediately before such merger,
                                             consolidation or reorganization,
                                             own, directly or indirectly,
                                             immediately following such merger,
                                             consolidation or reorganization, at
                                             least a majority of the combined
                                             voting power of the outstanding
                                             voting securities of the
                                             corporation resulting from such
                                             merger or consolidation or
                                             reorganization (the "Surviving
                                             Corporation") in substantially the
                                             same proportion as their ownership
                                             of the Voting Securities
                                             immediately before such merger,
                                             consolidation or reorganization,
                                             and

                                    (y)      the individuals who were members of
                                             the Incumbent Board immediately
                                             prior to the execution of the
                                             agreement providing for such
                                             merger, consolidation or
                                             reorganization constitute at least
                                             two-thirds of the members of the
                                             board of directors of the Surviving
                                             Corporation;

                                    (A transaction described in clauses (x) and
                                    (y) shall herein be referred to as a
                                    "Non-Control Transaction").

                           (vii)    Notwithstanding anything contained in this
         Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive's employment is terminated
         prior to a Change in Control and the Executive establishes that such
         termination (A) was at the request of a third party who has indicated
         an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in
         Control and who effectuates a Change in Control (a "Third Party") or
         (B) otherwise occurred in connection with, or in anticipation of, a
         Change in Control which actually occurs,

in each case within not more than six (6) months after such termination then for
all purposes of this Agreement, the date of a Change in Control with respect to
the Executive shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of the Executive's employment.


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<PAGE>

                           f.       "Disability" shall mean, subject to
applicable state and federal laws, a physical or mental infirmity which impairs
the Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties with SunLink for a
period of four (4) consecutive months, as determined by an independent physician
selected with the approval of both SunLink and the Executive.

                           g.       "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice of termination from SunLink or the Executive which specifies an effective
date of termination, indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, and sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated.

                           h.       "Successors and Assigns" shall mean a
corporation or other entity acquiring all or substantially all the assets and
business of SunLink (including this Agreement), whether by operation of law or
otherwise.

                           i.       "Termination Date" shall mean, in the case
of the Executive's death, his date of death, and in all other cases, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination.

                           j.       "Trade Secrets" shall mean any information,
including but not limited to technical or non-technical data, a formula, a
pattern, a compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a
process, financial data, financial plans, product plans, information on
customers, or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, which: (i)
derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to,
and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can
obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of
efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals
the 30th day of September, 2002 effective as of February 1, 2002.

                             SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.


                             By:      /s/ Robert M. Thornton, Jr.
                                -------------------------------------
                                  Robert M. Thornton, Jr.
                                  President

                             HARRY R. ALVIS


                                /s/ Harry R. Alvis                  L.S.
                             ----------------------------------------
                             Executive


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