BIRMINGHAM – Longtime healthcare executive Neeysa Biddle has announced her retirement as senior vice president, Ascension Healthcare, and Birmingham Ministry Market executive, serving as president and CEO of St. Vincent’s Health System (STVHS), effective June 30. She plans to continue working with Ascension’s newly created Consulting Network, LLC, through which she will continue to share her experience and insights in support of Catholic healthcare. 

Jason Alexander, formerly with Ascension’s Providence Health System in Mobile, and most recently with Tenet Healthcare Corp., will be rejoining Ascension to serve as Birmingham Ministry Market executive and president and CEO of STVHS.

Jason Alexander, FACHE, the incoming senior vice president, Ascension Healthcare, and Birmingham Ministry Market executive, has served as CEO of East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, part of Tenet Healthcare Corp., since 2011. While at East Cooper the hospital received Tenet’s Circle of Excellence recognition, awarded to Tenet’s highest-performing hospitals, in 2013, 2014 and 2016. The hospital more than doubled its operating performance and improved two letter grades in its Leapfrog Safety Score, while improving associate engagement and physician net promoter scores.

“The selection of Jason to lead our ministry reflects the commitment of Ascension and the physicians and community leaders on our board to appointing a leader with a strong track record of accomplishments and a passion for our Mission,” Biddle said. “He has never failed to impress me with his desire to make a difference, his leadership and achievements.”

Alexander has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and an extensive background in operations and development. He previously served for five years as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Providence Health System in Mobile, Alabama, part of the Ascension Gulf Coast Ministry Market, and earlier as Vice President at Singing River Health System on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His healthcare career began at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, where he served as Director of Business Development and Director of Physician Practice Operations.

Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of South Alabama in Mobile and master’s degrees in Health Administration and Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition, last year he completed a post-graduate program on Strategy for Healthcare Delivery through the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, and in 2009 earned a graduate certificate in Catholic Healthcare Ministry Leadership from Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on several boards including the local chapter of the American Heart Association and the Graduate Programs in Health Administration at both the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Medical University of South Carolina.