Ascension CEO Anthony Tersigni to Retire by End of 2019

March 21, 2019 - Ascension CEO Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, will retire by the end of the year, the large non-profit, Catholic health system recently announced on its website.

Tersigni has led the health system of over 2,600 care sites in 21 states for more than 15 years. He plans to retire on Dec. 31, 2019 but will continue to serve as a member of the executive committee of Ascension’s healthcare investment fund. He also plans to provide consulting services to the health system on an ongoing basis.

The announcement comes a couple of months after Ascension released plans to restructure operations, including splitting the role of the president and CEO. As of Jan. 22, Tersigni dropped his president title but remained the CEO of Ascension.

Ascension intends for the job title change “to create stronger connections and greater alignment” between its care delivery work and its solutions division. Since 2012, the two components have worked separately, but the health system now wants to create a “flatter, more integrated organization that can move nimbly and pivot more quickly.”

Creating an integrated organization also means empowering leaders to have the authority and accountability to lead change, Ascension stated in the announcement.

Following the operational restructuring, three long-time executive leaders shared their plans to leave the health system. Ascension Healthcare CEO Patricia A. Maryland, Dr PH, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer David B. Pryor, MD, and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension Holdings and Ascension Holdings International John D. Doyle will leave the organization.

Notably, Maryland was the leader of Ascension’s care delivery division. In light of the operational integration, Ascension will eliminate the position after Maryland leaves on June 30.

Tersigni now adds his name to the list of executives departing by the end of the year. But he will leave behind a rich legacy, including leading the effort to fully integrate the health system and its subsidiaries as “One Ascension,” Stephen M. Dufilho, Chair of Ascension’s Board of Directors, stated in the announcement.

“A vibrant servant leader, Tony has shepherded Ascension through a period of unprecedented change in the US healthcare industry while remaining true to the vision and legacy of the founding religious congregations of Ascension,” he wrote. “Never content to simply keep up with external trends, Tony has focused his time and energy on innovating and creating the future — leading transformation at Ascension to enable our Mission of serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.”

Tersigni was also recently a candidate to be the next VA Secretary.