Saint Thomas Health, Ascension's Tennessee ministry, has announced that Dr. Gregory James will be joining the nine-hospital system as Chief Clinical Officer. James, who comes to Saint Thomas Health from Birmingham, Alabama's St. Vincent's Health System, also an Ascension ministry, will begin his new role in mid-February.

"The Chief Clinical Officer role is vital to the progress of our health system as we implement the Ascension model of dyadic leadership in which the Chief Clinical Officer works closely with the Chief Operating Officer," said Karen Springer, Saint Thomas Health President and CEO. "Greg and our COO, Bernie Sherry, will align our clinical services and medical staff relations with the strategy and operation of our system. This alignment of operations and clinical services is key in the establishment of our clinically integrated system of care."

"Across Ascension we are developing clinically integrated systems of care that involve partnerships and collaborations with others in our local communities, in order to supports our delivery of compassionate, personalized care to all, especially those living in poverty and struggling the most, said Dr. Ziad Haydar, Chief Clinical Officer of Ascension Health. "Our model of dyadic leadership in all Ascension ministry markets supports our goal to provide improved health outcomes and an enhanced experience for both patients and providers at a lower overall cost of care."

James graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee Hospitals. He completed his residency in Neurology, serving as Chief Resident, at the University of Alabama Hospital. He holds an MBA from Auburn University and is currently part of the Ascension Leadership Academy.

James has been on the medical staff of St. Vincent's Health System since 1995, serving on the Medical Executive, Ethics, Education, Clinical Care, Service Excellence, Planning and Utilization Review committees. He chaired the Peer Review Committee and served as Medical Staff Secretary/Treasurer prior to assuming the role of Chief Medical Officer in 2010. He maintained a private Neurology practice from 1995 to 2010 with Newton and James Neurology Associates in Birmingham.

James served as an advisory board member and pre-med mentor at Birmingham-Southern College and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American College of Physician Executives. He is board certified in psychology and neurology.

ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH

Saint Thomas Health is Middle Tennessee's faith-based, not-for-profit health care system united as one healing community. Saint Thomas Health is focused on transforming the health care experience and helping people live healthier lives, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. The regional health system includes nine hospitals: Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital in Centerville, Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville, Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville and SaintThomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. A comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities complement the hospital services and cover a 68-county area. Saint Thomas Health is the Tennessee ministry of Ascension, the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.STHealth.com.