Douglas D. French, President and Chief Executive Officer

Douglas D. French is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension Health based in St. Louis, Missouri. Ascension Health is the largest Catholic healthcare system and largest nonprofit system in the United States with over 70 facilities operating in 36 markets and 20 states and the District of Columbia with operating revenue of $9.1 billion. He has over 25 years of experience previously serving as Executive Vice President/COO of Ascension Health; President/CEO of St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services, Indianapolis, Indiana; President/CEO of St. Mary's Medical Center, Evansville, Indiana; and as a Vice President of Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mr. French completed his undergraduate degree at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, and his graduate degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been active in community service and serves on numerous boards of directors including Catholic Healthcare West, Catholic Health Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, HRDI and Herman Miller. He has published and spoken on stewardship, leadership development and collaboration. He was named Indiana Young Healthcare Executive of the Year in 1991 and was awarded the University of Evansville Delta Sigma Pi Professionalism in Community and Commerce Businessman of the Year in 1994. He is the 2003 recipient of the distinguished alumni award from the healthcare graduate program at Xavier University.

Doug and his wife, Paula, are natives of Cincinnati and have three adult daughters and three grandchildren.

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