Owen Bailey, USA Health's chief executive officer, has announced his retirement, effective August 1.
Bailey has spent nearly 38 years in health care administration and has been in his current position since 2016.
“As a proud part of the University of South Alabama family, I can confidently say we have assembled one of the best, most patient-centered groups of healthcare professionals in the world,” said Bailey. “Taking care of people is a true privilege, and it has been an honor and a blessing to work with so many talented and compassionate teams throughout my career.”
Bailey previously served as the administrator of USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital for five years and led Fairhope's Thomas Hospital from 1992 to 2006.
Bailey oversaw expansive growth from seven facilities in 2016 to more than 40 care-delivery sites. He also took part in the acquisition of Ascension Providence in October 2023. That agreement brought on an additional 1,800 employees and 14 clinics, making USA Health the largest public health system in the region.
“Owen’s contributions to USA Health over the past 14 years have been invaluable, helping make our academic health system one of the very best in the nation,” said USA president Jo Bonner. “We are truly grateful for all he has done for our patients and our community.”
Bailey won the Alabama Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2023 and was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of 96 Academic Medical Center CEOs to Know in 2023 and 2024.
“Much of the remarkable growth and success USA Health has achieved over the past decade can be directly attributed to Owen,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. “Owen has been an exceptional leader — visionary, steady, and deeply committed to our mission — but even more impressive is the kind of person he is. Anyone who knows him recognizes that he embodies the true spirit of servant leadership.”
He is on the board of directors for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama, the Business Council of Alabama and has served as chairperson of the Alabama Hospital Association Board of Directors.
He has a bachelor's degree in health administration from Auburn University and a master's from UAB.
“It has been a tremendous honor to work in close partnership with Dr. John Marymont since 2016,” said Bailey. “He is a person of such integrity and devotion to the academic mission. There could have been no better partner to work with as we strived together to move the health system forward. We have a devoted leadership team which has worked very hard on all these initiatives over the years.”
Natalie Fox, DNP, PNP-BC, USA Health's chief physician enterprise officer, has been named interim CEO.
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