Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System announced Sept. 28 that executive vice president and CFO Alec King will succeed David Callender, MD, as president and CEO when he retires at the end of the year.
Memorial Hermann joins two other health systems operating more than a dozen hospitals that have turned to their CFOs to succeed outgoing CEOs:
ScionHealth
Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth on June 10 named Doug Shirley CEO as part of an executive leadership transition. Mr. Shirley had served as the CFO of the network of specialty hospitals and community hospitals since April 2025. He succeeded Rob Jay, who had served as ScionHealth’s CEO since the system formed in 2021. Mr. Jay became executive chairman as part of the transition.
Mr. Shirley stepped into the role with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, not only as a CFO but also as a revenue cycle leader. Before joining ScionHealth, he served as executive vice president and CFO of PathGroup. Prior to that, he served as CFO of the national group and head of enterprise revenue cycle management at Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Shirley served as vice president of revenue cycle at Brentwood, Tenn.-based Ardent Health and later held the same title at Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care before becoming the system’s senior executive vice president and CFO.
ScionHealth operates 62 long-term acute care hospitals and six community hospital campuses across 23 states, according to its website.
Vandalia Health
Jeff Sandene assumed the role of president and CEO of Charleston, W.Va.-based Vandalia Health on June 1, succeeding the retiring Dave Ramsey.
Mr. Sandene stepped into the role after serving as the system’s executive vice president and CFO since January 2023. He previously served as executive vice president and CFO of Charleston Area Medical Center Health System. Vandalia Health formed in 2022 through the merger of CAMC Health System and Morgantown, W.Va.-based Mon Health System. Elkins, W.Va.-based Davis Health System joined the system in December 2023.
Before joining CAMC, Mr. Sandene spent a dozen years in executive roles at Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health, including as the system’s chief integration officer from July 2014 to January 2017.
Vandalia Health grew to an 18-hospital system in September with the opening of Vandalia Health Mon Harrison Neighborhood Hospital in Bridgeport, W.Va.
Memorial Hermann Health System
Mr. King will assume the role of president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2027. He joined the system in 2020 and his responsibilities span technology and cybersecurity, supply chain, facilities, revenue cycle, investments, payer relations and direct-to-employer programs.
Before joining Memorial Hermann, Mr. King served as executive vice president and CFO of Children’s National Health System beginning in 2016. He also previously held executive roles at Houston-based Texas Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Callender is retiring as president and CEO on Dec. 31 after seven years leading Memorial Hermann. Mr. King will helm a 17-hospital system with more than $10 billion in annual operating revenue.
