NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Marietta, GA, July 9, 2025 – Ketul J. Patel, a nationally respected healthcare executive, has been named the next president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most prominent nonprofit health systems. Patel will assume his new role in late October, following the retirement of current CEO Candice L. Saunders.
Patel currently serves as CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and as president of CommonSpirit Health’s Pacific Northwest division. He brings more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience to Wellstar, including oversight of multi-hospital systems and major health initiatives across the country.
The announcement was made by Wellstar’s Board of Trustees, which selected Patel after a nationwide search that reviewed nearly 200 candidates. In a statement, the Board said Patel was chosen for his strong track record of leading healthcare transformations while remaining focused on quality, safety, and community care.
In his current role, Patel is responsible for 12 hospitals, more than 300 patient care locations, and 20,000 team members, including more than 5,600 employed and affiliated providers.
During his time at VMFH, Patel led the 2021 merger between CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason, creating one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the Pacific Northwest. Under his leadership, VMFH earned national recognition for patient safety, including achieving all “A” grades from Leapfrog across its hospitals—making it the only health system in Washington state to do so.
Patel also launched the VMFH Care Network in 2024 to support independent hospitals across five western states. He was responsible for oversight of major institutions such as the Benaroya Research Institute and Bailey-Boushay House, which focus on autoimmune disease and HIV/AIDS care, respectively.
In a statement released by Wellstar, Patel said he was honored to join the system and looked forward to continuing its mission of delivering compassionate, high-quality care. He added that he plans to engage with communities across Georgia and work with state leaders to increase access to care.
Originally from the Midwest, Patel earned a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and holds dual master’s degrees in health administration and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He has previously held leadership roles at health systems in Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey.
Patel has been recognized multiple times on Modern Healthcare’s list of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” and has been honored as a top diversity leader. He also serves on several national healthcare boards and was recently elected chair of the Washington State Hospital Association.
Patel will officially assume the CEO role at Wellstar at the end of October, pending board confirmation later this month.
