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Ascension Saint Thomas has named Dr. Joshua Ramsey as the chief medical officer for four Upper Cumberland hospitals: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb in Smithville, Highlands in Sparta, River Park in McMinnville, and Stones River in Woodbury, effective Jan. 5, 2026. In this role, Ramsey will oversee clinical leadership, physician engagement, patient safety, and quality initiatives across the hospitals and their affiliated medical staff.
Ramsey most recently served as the lead hospitalist for these four hospitals, in addition to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West in Nashville. Over the past two years, he has played a critical role in advancing clinical quality, expanding inpatient capacity, and supporting program growth. Ramsey provided oversight for hospitalist programs representing more than 50 physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses. His work led to measurable improvements in operational efficiency, care quality and patient safety metrics across the Ascension Saint Thomas network. He also led development of a combined cardiology-hospitalist night service, a tele-hospitalist program, an emergency department follow-up clinic and a transitional care clinic referral process.
“Dr. Ramsey has already demonstrated exceptional leadership across our Upper Cumberland hospitals,” said Neal Kelley, regional hospital president for Ascension Saint Thomas. “His leadership will support our ongoing efforts to expand access, improve outcomes and strengthen physician engagement.”
Ramsey is board-certified in internal medicine and completed his residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Concord University. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with expected completion in 2026.
Over the past year, these four hospitals collectively provided care through 52,418 emergency room visits, 2,810 surgeries, and 318 births, among other services. They invested $18.1 million in community benefit, supporting patients who could not afford care and funding programs that promote community health and wellness. Over the past decade, this investment has exceeded $127 million.
Ascension Saint Thomas remains committed to expanding access to high-quality, community-based care across Middle Tennessee. By continuing to invest in local hospitals, the health system strengthens its commitment to provide care close to home.
