Longtime Ascension leader Vincent C. Caponi, FACHE, has announced he will retire effective June 30, 2017. Vicki Briggs, currently Chief Operating Officer at St. Vincent’s, will succeed him as Health System President and CEO at St. Vincent’s Health Services in Bridgeport, Connecticut, effective July 1.
“Thanks to Vince’s tremendous contributions during his tenure with Ascension, we are a stronger, more compassionate and more person-centered national health ministry,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Healthcare. “He has been a mentor to many of our leaders and associates, and a trusted advisor and friend to many more, including me.”
“I would like to thank the extraordinary group of medical professionals, staff and Connecticut residents who made me feel at home during my tenure at St. Vincent’s and will no doubt continue to inspire me in my future endeavors,” Vince said. “Vicki has been a vital partner by my side here, and her passion and commitment are unmatched. She is well equipped to lead St. Vincent’s into the future.”
After earning a Bachelor of Arts at Xavier University and a Master of Science in Administration at Central Michigan University, Vince began his career as administrator at United Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Michigan, where he worked with physicians to establish numerous outpatient clinics in the community. Starting in 1983 he served as President and CEO of St. Joseph Center for Life in Augusta, Georgia, then part of Carondelet Health System, where he led growth and expansion of several programs.
Vince joined St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, as President and CEO in 1991. While there, in collaboration with UAB Hospitals, he helped re-establish medical homes for those who are poor and underserved, and was involved in a major growth program on the hospital’s main campus.
In 1998 Vince assumed the leadership of St. Vincent Health, in the Ascension Indiana Ministry Market, and later added the role of Indiana Ministry Market Executive. During his tenure from 1998 to 2013, St. Vincent grew from an Indianapolis campus with a tertiary hospital to a statewide network with hospitals serving many rural areas. His legacy includes developing a high-quality healthcare system, building on local resources and empowering local capabilities to deliver high-quality, affordable healthcare throughout Central Indiana. St. Vincent became one of the state’s largest healthcare employers, and Vince led efforts to develop innovative healthcare solutions for employers and commercial markets across the state.
Upon leaving St. Vincent, Vince served Ascension in a number of capacities, wherever he was needed. He assumed the position of Executive Board Chair for St. Vincent Health and Executive Board Chair of Ascension Texas, and served in a consultative role to Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI), our partnership with Narayana Health of India to provide care for underserved populations in the Caribbean region and beyond.
Before stepping in to lead St. Vincent’s in Bridgeport in summer 2016, Vince served as interim Ministry Market Executive for Ascension Wisconsin, providing leadership and guidance on its journey to becoming an integrated statewide health system.
About Vicki Briggs
“Vicki is an experienced, values-inspired healthcare executive with a record of results in patient and associate satisfaction, operating performance, and growth in the numerous organizations she has led,” Dr. Maryland said. “We’re pleased that she has agreed to take on the leadership of St. Vincent’s.”
Most recently, Vicki has been serving as chief operating officer of St. Vincent’s, and along with the executive leadership team has helped lead the transformation of St. Vincent’s as it navigates the rapidly changing healthcare environment.
“Since my arrival to St. Vincent’s, I have been inspired by our associates’ and physicians’ commitment to our Mission, our patients and the community,” she said. “St. Vincent’s has been a beacon of hope and care since 1905, and continuing that critical role is a responsibility that I take on with great humility and reverence.”
From 2011 to 2014, Vicki served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. Vincent’s Health System in Birmingham, Alabama, part of Ascension. Before rejoining Ascension in 2016, she led her own hospital and healthcare provider consulting firm. Over the course of her career, Vicki has had responsibility for 22 hospitals, from small rural, critical access and community hospitals, to specialty and large tertiary and teaching hospitals. She has been a speaker on healthcare for numerous organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the New Horizons Cardiovascular Conference, the Dallas Morning News Distinguished Lecture Series, the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, the Healthcare Financial Management Association, The Joint Commission, and the Alabama and Louisiana Hospital Associations.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana, and completed a Master’s in Business Administration at Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. She also is a graduate of the Ascension Executive Management Leadership Formation program.
Vicki was named the Brock School of Business alumnus of the year in 2013 and served on the Brock School of Business Advisory Council. She also serves as Chair of the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association and as Development Co-Chair and Chair-elect of The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham.
