Ascension Saint Thomas announced today that Harrison Kiser, the current chief operating officer for Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, has been named president and COO of the hospital, effective Dec. 8, 2024.
"For the past six years, Harrison has been a driving force behind operations at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West," said Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital. "Under his leadership, our West campus has seen strategic investments and program enhancements that have positioned us as a leader in high-acuity services across Middle Tennessee." Together, the new leadership structure will enhance the strategic alignment between the two campuses, allowing for additional opportunities to better serve the Nashville metropolitan area.
With more than 14 years of progressive leadership experience across both not-for-profit and investor-owned healthcare systems, Kiser brings extensive expertise in hospital operations, strategic development, and clinical program management. Since 2018, he has overseen daily operations for the 541-bed Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, including key departments such as perioperative and cardiac services, transplant, and ancillary services. During his tenure, he was responsible for overseeing capital projects, programmatic expansions, and improvements to the hospital campus experience.
In addition to his role as COO, Kiser also served as vice president of the cardiovascular service line for Ascension Saint Thomas. In this role, he collaborated closely with physicians and health system leaders to implement strategic initiatives and establish hospital partnerships. Kiser’s leadership has driven the largest adult cardiac program in 45 locations across Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, which includes 84 cardiac specialists and surgeons. Ascension Saint Thomas remains the top choice for patients seeking cardiac care in Middle Tennessee.
“Harrison’s leadership has contributed to remarkable growth and programmatic expansion at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, strengthening our commitment to exceptional care for high-acuity services in Tennessee,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West is a nationally recognized, trusted hospital with deep roots in the community. With his operational expertise and surrounded by the expertise and partnership of our physicians and leadership team, Harrison is poised to lead our next chapter of excellence, innovation, and service to Middle Tennessee.”
About Ascension Saint Thomas
Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers a highly comprehensive system of care, with more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 16 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
