Karen Springer is taking on a new operations leadership role within the Healthcare Division of Ascension, the nation’s largest nonprofit and largest Catholic health system, effective Jan. 1, 2018. As President, Healthcare Operations, she will be accountable for the management oversight of Enterprise Excellence, which includes Performance Excellence and the Project Management Office (ePMO) as well as Ascension Healthcare’s small and medium Ministry Markets, delivering solutions to improve operating performance and achieve operating excellence for all ministries within those markets, and the successful execution of strategic operating priorities. She will report to Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare.
Consistent with Ascension’s Mission to address the unique healthcare needs of the communities served, particularly those who are poor and vulnerable, Karen will provide leadership and guidance in these ministries’ ongoing efforts to explore new models of healthcare delivery to achieve operational excellence. Driven by the operating model, Karen will play a key role in evaluating and aligning each Ministry Market’s services and structure to help leverage Ascension’s collective resources in order to create maximum value for the communities served while ensuring financial stability and optimal operating performance.
In addition, longtime healthcare leader Tim Adams will be joining Ascension to lead Ascension Tennessee.
“Karen has served with distinction as Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Tennessee, since 2015,” Pat said. “A skilled executive and operations leader who began her career in nursing, she has led the continued integration of Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, accelerating achievement of our Strategic Direction as the ministry has focused on meeting the needs of consumers.”
About Karen Springer
Karen joined Saint Thomas Health in 2011 as President and Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for operational success and effectiveness of Saint Thomas Health hospital facilities, physician practices and numerous joint ventures.
Under Karen’s direction and leadership at Saint Thomas Health, innovation and organizational effectiveness have fostered growth and enhanced the ability of physicians and clinicians to provide compassionate, personalized care to patients, resulting in financial, quality and service performance. Karen’s extensive background and knowledge in healthcare have been a true asset to Saint Thomas Health as she led the ministry to a smarter network while creating accessible and affordable healthcare to all the communities Saint Thomas Health serves.
Due to their dedication to serving those who are uninsured and underinsured, Karen and the associates of Saint Thomas Health were able to expand their medical missions in new counties, and now host four medical missions a year serving nearly 2,000 lives.
Under Karen’s direction, Saint Thomas formed a partnership with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to introduce high school seniors to healthcare professions through the Saint Thomas Health Scholars Program. Additionally, this year Saint Thomas Medical Partners opened a clinic at Maplewood High School in Nashville, offering accessible, affordable primary care to students, staff and the surrounding community.
In addition to her leadership in advocacy for access to care, Karen has been instrumental in building relationships with health insurance companies to proactively manage the health and well-being of individuals and families.
In partnership with the Women’s Heart Alliance, Karen launched a voluntary holistic wellness journey for Saint Thomas Health associates, Caring for the Caregivers. The initiative was implemented to help motivate associates and support co-workers by placing an increased emphasis on taking care of themselves from a physical, mental and spiritual perspective. This initiative is an opportunity for caregivers to make their health a priority and provide a good example for patients and for the community.
Karen received her Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Germanna College in Virginia and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She completed her Master of Science degree in Administration at Ball State University in Indiana.
Karen is active in the Middle Tennessee community, serving as the Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, the Nashville Healthcare Council Board of Directors, Board member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Health, Tennessee Hospital Association, Center for Medical Interoperability, Nashville Health Care Council, and Tennessee Business Roundtable. She also serves on the Boards of Saint Thomas Rutherford, River Park Hospital, DeKalb Community Hospital and Stones River Community Hospital. She serves on the board of advisors for the University of Kentucky MHA. And she is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing.
Karen has most recently been honored as a Women of Influence with the Nashville Business Journal, Women to Watch with Nashville Medical News, and in February, Karen is being honored and will accept the 2018 Women’s Day Magazine, 15th annual Red Dress Award in New York City.
As Karen assumes her new position she will relocate her office to St. Louis.
Tim Adams to lead Ascension Tennessee
Tim Adams is an experienced and respected healthcare leader who is committed to operational excellence and compassionate, personalized care. “He has deep experience in hospital operations and business development, and we are happy that he will be joining us to lead Ascension Tennessee,” Pat Maryland said.
Tim served as Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Region of Tenet Healthcare, one of the company’s largest regions, with 26 hospitals and net operating revenues of approximately $4 billion. Tim joined Tenet in 2012 and previously has led the company’s integration and operations team, where he oversaw the integration of new acquisitions and ventures as well as the hospital business development function.
Previously, Tim was Chief Executive Officer at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center in Cedar Park, Texas, a partner of Ascension’s Seton Healthcare Family. Earlier he served as Division Vice President with Community Health Systems, based in Franklin, Tennessee, providing operational oversight of that system’s Texas facilities. He also served as Division President for IASIS Healthcare, which also was based in Franklin and since has been acquired by Steward Health Care System, overseeing three hospitals in the Tampa, Florida, market.
Tim earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at El Paso. Tim is active in Texas, serving on the Texas Hospital Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Federation of American Hospitals Board of Governors, Baylor University’s MBA Healthcare Program Advisory Board, and previously on the Board of Directors for the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce as well as previously serving as President of the Cedar Park Rotary Club.
