Eric Paul Named President of Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital

Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Paul as president.

Paul brings more than 30 years of experience as a healthcare executive, with leadership roles spanning hospitals, managed care organizations, physician networks and behavioral health systems. Throughout his career, he has led organizations in for-profit, private equity and public-sector environments, consistently advancing growth, operational performance and patient outcomes.

Most recently, Paul served as president of Behavioral Health Services at HCA Healthcare. Prior to his tenure at HCA, he held senior executive positions at IASIS Healthcare/Steward Health, including regional president and chief managed care officer. He also directed UnitedHealth Group's Community & State operations in Tennessee and Iowa, where he launched major state programs and delivered sustained financial performance.

"Eric is a mission-driven leader who understands the importance of delivering compassionate, community-centered care," said Neal Kelley, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas regional hospitals. "We are confident his guidance will support River Park's continued expansion and its long-standing commitment to serving McMinnville and the surrounding region."

Earlier in his career, Paul held leadership roles at Amerigroup, Quorum Health Resources, NovaSys Health Network, Sherman Oaks Healthcare System and Charter Medical Corporation. His work included building new provider networks, expanding markets and leading successful hospital startups.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science in financial management from California State University, Long Beach, and an Executive Health Care Management Certificate from the University of Southern California. He is also a Fellow of the Nashville Health Care Council.

"River Park is experiencing tremendous momentum, and I'm excited to help lead the next phase of growth," Paul said. "Together, we will continue investing in innovation, expanding access to care and strengthening the services our patients rely on close to home."

Saint Thomas River Park is a 125-bed hospital and the largest of Saint Thomas' regional facilities. With nearly 400 associates and a medical staff representing 26 specialties, the hospital continues to expand its services and infrastructure to meet growing community needs. Recent enhancements include telemedicine stroke services, the return of acute dialysis to McMinnville, new robotic-assisted surgical technology and a renovated 12-bed ICU. Construction is also underway to expand the emergency department.

Ascension Saint Thomas remains steadfast in its mission to provide high-quality, community-centered healthcare across Middle Tennessee. By continuing to invest in local facilities such as Saint Thomas River Park, the system strengthens its promise to deliver compassionate care close to home.