Leadership

Les A. Donahue
President and Chief Executive Officer
Les A. Donahue, MBA, FACHE, began his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Thomas Hospital on May 1, 2006.

Previously, Donahue served as Chief Executive Officer for Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He also served concurrently as Corporate Vice President for Sentara Healthcare, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

Donahue brings a breadth of healthcare leadership experience to Saint Thomas Hospital. Much like Saint Thomas Hospital, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital is an acute and tertiary care facility specializing in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Leading that organization since 2003, Donahue led strategic planning initiatives that resulted in increased financial viability and innovative patient care models for the facility, as well as significant capital improvement efforts.

Prior to his leadership role at the Virginia Beach Hospital, Donahue was President and CEO of Sentara Williamsburg Community Hospital in Williamsburg, where he led a campaign for the construction of a new hospital and implemented innovations that led to superior patient satisfaction results. Prior to joining the Sentara Healthcare System in 1995, Donahue held CEO positions with the Saint Francis Healthcare System in Charleston, West Virginia, and The McDowell Hospital in Marion, North Carolina. Donahue began his career in Nashville in both CFO and Administrator roles with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) facilities.

Donahue holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Business Administration degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He completed a post-graduate executive program in healthcare administration at Duke University in 1980.

Chief Medical Officer
In May 2006, Dr. E. Dale Batchelor was named Chief Medical Officer. For more than 20 years he has served this hospital, its patients and physicians. His experience and workings with the medical staff is critical to the success of Saint Thomas. Batchelor has served as: Chief Physician Executive, Interim Chief Operating Officer and Chief Physician Executive. Most recently, Batchelor served as Interim President and CEO from January 2005 to May 2006. Board certified and trained at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Batchelor, a member of Saint Thomas medical staff since 1986, has practiced ophthalmology in Nashville since 1979. He has also served as Chairman of Saint Thomas Specialty Physicians, division head of Ophthalmology and as chair of the Outpatient Advisory Committee.

Anna Harb
Chief Nursing Officer
In August 2006, Anna Harb began her duties Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Thomas Hospital. Harb has served Saint Thomas for more than 20 years. Some of Anna's accomplishments include, obtaining Chest Pain Center Accreditation, implementing two Cath Lab PCI programs at Williamson Medical Center and MTMC, and opening our 2nd Cardiac Short Stay unit. Harb began working at Saint Thomas Hospital in 1986. Since 2001, she served Saint Thomas Hospital as Associate Chief of Nursing. Harb earned her Masters of Science Health Service Administration from the University of Saint Francis and her Baccalaureate in Nursing from Madonna University.

Jerry Kearney
Vice President of Mission
In October 2007, Jerry Kearney began his duties as vice president of mission at Saint Thomas Hospital. Kearney has more than 25 years of senior level healthcare management experience. Kearney oversees Saint Thomas Hospital's ministry and mission efforts. The Daughters of Charity founded Saint Thomas Hospital in 1898 in Nashville. The mission of Saint Thomas Hospital is based on the works and teachings of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis de Marillac.

From 2001 to 2007, Kearney served as founder and principal of the Hesed Group in Abilene, Texas. The Hesed Group is a behavioral healthcare management and operations firm, dedicated to bringing outcome effective, cost-efficient mental health and substance abuse services to underserved areas. Kearney has also directed behavioral health facilities in Kansas, Illinois, Virginia and Maryland.

He has Master of Arts in Human Development from the University of Maryland, a Master of Arts in Theology from Washington Theological Union, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Joseph's Seminary College.

Lisa Davis
Vice President, Finance
Lisa Davis, who is responsible for the hospital's financial strategy, planning and accounting practices, is also the controller for Saint Thomas Health Services, which includes Baptist Hospital, Saint Thomas Hospital, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville.

Davis is a certified public accountant and has worked for Saint Thomas Health Services for nearly seven years.

Davis received her Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) from the University of Tennessee.

Cathy Childs
Director of Human Resources
Cathy Childs serves as human resources director for Saint Thomas Hospital. Childs, who has significant experience in human resources, hospitality, benefits and training and is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the human resources department and working with hospital leadership in employee relations, daily operational staffing activities, salary administration, performance appraisals, regulatory compliance and human resources policies. She also coordinates with Saint Thomas Health Services, serving as the human resources liaison between the hospital and health system. Childs began working at Saint Thomas Hospital in 1999, as human resources manager. In January 2007, she was promoted to director of human resources. Childs earned her BS in Hospitality Management from the University of Alabama.

Paul Lindsley
Director of Communications
Since December 2001, Paul Lindsley has served as the director of communications for Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, nationally known as one of the top cardiac hospitals in the country.

Prior to joining Saint Thomas Hospital, Paul was the senior manager of communications at Opryland Hotel in Nashville. He also has more than nine years of broadcast journalism experience working at TV stations in Huntsville, Alabama and Memphis.

Paul earned a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Troy University and a Master of Arts in Corporate Communications from Austin Peay State University.