Owen Bailey, who has been CEO of USA Health since 2016, has announced his retirement effective Aug. 1.
Natalie Fox, chief physician enterprise officer for USA Health, has been named interim CEO of the system.
During Bailey’s tenure as CEO, the health system has grown from seven facilities to more than 40. He was a key player in the system’s acquisition of Ascension Providence hospital in 2023, bringing not only the West Mobile hospital but also 1,800 employees and 14 clinics into the university-based system.
“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 health care 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.”
Among the achievements during his tenure with USA Health are doubling the size of USA Health Children’s and Women’s Hospital, where he was administrator for five years, expanding the trauma center at USA Health University Hospital, adding a freestanding emergency facility in West Mobile and an additional health care campus in Fairhope.
In addition, he helped develop the Southwest Alabama Rural Hospital Collaborative, which aids 10 rural hospitals in the 100 miles surrounding Mobile.
He also created a department of spiritual care to support employees, patients and their families during the worst of the COVID-19 crisis.
“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.
“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.”
Bailey has been honored by the Alabama Hospital Association and by Becker’s Hospital Review and serves on the boards of Blue Cross and Blue Sheild of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama.
Before joining USA Health, he was president and CEO of Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and then executive vice president at Infirmary Health.
Bailey is a graduate of Auburn University, where he was drum major of the marching band, and holds a master’s in health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
