When Ketul Patel became president and CEO of Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System in October 2025, he saw a clear opportunity to strengthen how healthcare is delivered across Georgia — through clinical networks, digital infrastructure and cultural alignment.
“This is my first time working in the state, and as I learn more about it and the healthcare needs here, it’s clear to me that we’re uniquely positioned to address those needs,” Mr. Patel told Becker’s. “We’re in a position to impact care on a broader, even global level for communities in Georgia.”
Mr. Patel previously served as CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Wash., and as president of CommonSpirit Health’s Pacific Northwest region. There, he led the 2021 merger of CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason and oversaw the launch of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Care Network — a model that provides support to independent hospitals while allowing them to remain self-governed.
Now leading Wellstar — an 11-hospital system with more than 34,000 employees — he sees similar potential to broaden reach through aligned partnerships and network-based care.
“What drew me in … is that Wellstar is set up to be a strong voice and community partner. We have the opportunity to deeply impact the health of the broader state of Georgia. I believe we’ll be a very big part of that in the years ahead.”
A central component of that strategy is the Wellstar Digital Health Network, a telehealth-based program that supports rural hospitals across Georgia by providing specialist access and clinical collaboration. Twenty-four percent of the state’s critical access hospitals are now part of the network.
“When we first launched it in 2019, only 30% of patients in those communities stayed local for care. Now, 70% of those patients are receiving care in their home regions because of the network we’ve created.”
Wellstar’s partnership with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia helps facilitate that reach, supporting remote specialty care delivery.
“That evolution is a huge part of the Wellstar clinical brand. We’ve been very intentional about growing our clinical footprint. Our Physician Clinical Integration Network now includes about 3,000 physician members. Through that network, we have a broad reach and, in my opinion, the most prominent organization for clinical programs in the state.”
Outside of this progress, Mr. Patel said he was also drawn to Wellstar because of its people. The system’s care philosophy, known as PeopleCare, reflects a commitment to personalized, human-centered healthcare. But he said it’s more than a tagline.
“I’ve worked in many parts of the country, and here, every team member — more than 34,000 and growing — is focused on ensuring patients and their families have the right experience. It’s a responsibility. As I rounded through the system, across inpatient and outpatient sites, I saw that firsthand.”
Mr. Patel said his visits to the health system’s sites of care also provided him with a unique perspective on what needs to evolve at the organization and what’s working well.
“We’re not walking into fires here. This is a highly successful organization. But now we have the opportunity, with new leadership in place, to look to the future. The growth potential in Georgia and across the Southeast is significant.”
That growth, he said, may take multiple forms — from partnerships and acquisitions to expanded academic and clinical programs.
“We’ll always be known for quality, safety and patient experience. But the trajectory of our future — from both organic and inorganic growth — will allow us to be a major part of healthcare in this region for years to come.”
Wellstar also plans to expand its research and education missions and take a more active role in shaping healthcare policy statewide. The system recently added a second helicopter to expand emergency transport capabilities and continues to recruit new clinical leaders.
“At the end of the day, we will be known for clinical excellence,” Mr. Patel said. “We’re actively recruiting luminaries to raise the bar even further.”
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