Saint Francis names new CEO for market
Saint Francis Healthcare announced that Audrey Gregory, Ph.D., RN, has returned to Memphis and has joined the market’s administrative team as the new market chief executive officer (CEO). She succeeds David Archer, who recently announced his retirement.
In this position, Gregory is responsible for overseeing all areas of operations at Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett. Chris Locke, CEO at Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, will remain in his position. Gregory will report to Garry Gause, CEO of Tenet Healthcare’s Southern Region.
Gause said, “Audrey’s experience in strategic growth and fiscal responsibility, and her interpersonal skills are vital to carry out Saint Francis Healthcare’s mission in the community. She is a proven leader and we are confident she will lead our hospitals to even greater heights in our commitment to excellent service.”
The new CEO has a positive outlook. Gregory said. “I look forward to working with the outstanding physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who make this health system such an asset to our community.”
With more than 20 years of nursing experience, Gregory began her Tenet career in 2004 at Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fla., as director of emergency services before advancing to become director of nursing. In 2008, she became the chief nursing officer (CNO). In 2011, she was promoted to chief operating officer (COO) at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, where she was a member of the executive leadership team and was responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations.
In 2014, Gregory was promoted to chief executive officer (CEO) at Placentia-Linda Hospital in Placentia, Calif. Under her leadership, the hospital was honored with two Tenet Circle of Excellence Awards and achieved the highest quality ranking in the company on last year’s internal Balanced Scorecard.
She holds a doctorate in global leadership concentrating in corporate and organizational management from Lynn Univer-sity in Boca Raton, Fla. She earned a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.
She was born in Jamaica, moved to the U.S. for college and traveled with her husband during his military career in the U.S. Army. She is the mother of three children, ages 19, 14 and 9.
Saint Francis hospitals receive ‘A’ grades for patient safety
Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett and Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis have been honored with “A” Hospital Safety Scores by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital industry watchdog. They were the only two hospitals in the Memphis area to receive an “A” grade.
In Tennessee, just 24 hospitals received an “A” grade. Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis was recognized as a “Straight A” hospital for being one of just 98 hospitals nationwide to have achieved an “A” grade in every grading period since 2012. Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett received its fifth consecutive “A” grade.
See more information at hospitalsafetyscore.org.
Travel Leaders marks 30th anniversary
Travel Leaders Memphis/Bartlett/Collierville celebrates 30 years of being in business this year.
Barbara May, owner, said she opened the doors to her travel agency on March 7, 1986.
Although the Internet has challenged the industry, it’s also been a blessing, she said. “We are seeing more people returning to travel agents because they don’t have the time or knowledge to plan a trip themselves, plus the internet will give you information overload and cause mass confusion. We’ve heard many horror stories from clients that have booked online and have experienced some sort of a hiccup somewhere along the way. They have realized that for the same cost and a lot less stress, they had rather have a professional help them.”
Most of her agents have been with her company for more than 25 years. All are destination wedding and honeymoon certified as well as Sandals certified. They are preferred vendors for Delta Vacations and the cruise lines and earmarked with Walt Disney World.
For more information, visit Travel Leaders Memphis at 2765 Wolf Creek Parkway, Ste. 104, go online to GoTravelLeaders.com, or call (901) 377-6600 or (901) 853-6200.
