Dive Brief:
Ascension CEO Joseph Impicciche will retire at the end of the year, the nonprofit health system announced Tuesday.
The health system’s board of directors has appointed President Eduardo Conrado to succeed Impicciche, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Ascension said it has been preparing for Impicciche’s departure for some time, adding the executive will be “actively engaged” in Conrado’s transition.
Dive Insight:
Impicciche spearheaded efforts to expand care access at the Catholic health system during his six-year tenure as CEO. Under his watch, the system grew to 94 hospitals, including ownership interests in 27 additional facilities, senior living facilities and a network of other care sites across 16 states.
Recently, he sat at the helm of Ascension’s $3.9 billion acquisition of ambulatory surgery provider Amsurg, which will add more than 250 ambulatory surgery centers to the health system’s portfolio.
The executive also created the Ascension Foundation, which helps fund care for those living in poverty as well as other community benefit programs. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation provided $2.1 billion in care, according to a press release.
Impicciche also led Ascension through a series of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a massive cyberattack last year and industry-wide headwinds, including labor shortages and high inflation.
New CEO Conrado joined Ascension in 2018 and has served as president since 2023, according to the release.
As president, Conrado helped Ascension begin to stabilize its finances, modernize infrastructure and transform its portfolio, Ascension said. Conrado helped the system reduce its dependence on pricey contract labor and expand its ambulatory and pharmacy offerings.
Additionally, the incoming CEO has led initiatives on digital tools. He oversaw the introduction of the Ascension One app, for example, which allows patients to manage care and pay their bills in one place, according to the release.
Although the health system has made progress toward financial recovery, Ascension still posted a $101.2 million operating loss for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, after a $1.1 billion net loss in 2024. The health system has continued to deal with the fallout of the cyberattack and, like many of its peers, has also struggled with investment returns in part due to broader economic volatility.
