Jarrett B. Millsaps Jr., MBA, FACHE, has spent more than two decades improving lives through leadership in hospitals and health systems and helping develop emerging technologies designed to improve clinical outcomes. He currently serves as president of three CommonSpirit Health hospitals: St. Joseph Medical Center, formerly St. Joseph East; The Women’s Hospital; and St. Joseph Hospital–Mt. Sterling. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in hospitals, health systems, and other organizations, helping strengthen their cultures, clinical excellence, and competitive positions.
Born in Chattanooga and raised outside Nashville, Millsaps has spent the past two decades serving communities in Kentucky and Tennessee and is proud to once again call Kentucky home. His healthcare career began with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), where he held several positions, including associate administrator and ethics and compliance officer at Frankfort Regional Medical Center. From 2020 to 2021, he served as CEO of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington.
Jarrett Millsaps as the President of CHI St Joseph East and Mount Sterling, Tuesday Nov. 4, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Mahan Mahan Multimedia
Millsaps returned to Tennessee in 2021, serving first as managing director and senior vice president of Solas BioVentures, a venture capital firm focused on the life sciences industry, and later as CEO of Tennova Healthcare–Cleveland in Cleveland, Tennessee. Before joining CommonSpirit Health in October 2025, Millsaps spent two years providing strategic and leadership solutions to health systems through his role with Bancroft Trust Health Partners in Chattanooga.
Before beginning his healthcare career, Millsaps served eight years in the U.S. Navy. His service included assignments aboard warships and in the Naval Special Warfare community as a Special Warfare Combat Crewman (SWCC) operator and detachment commander in locations around the world.
Millsaps earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and a graduate degree in finance from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. He is board-certified in healthcare management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Millsaps and his wife, Leigh Ann, have been married for more than two decades and have two children. Their son, Turner, is a senior at Lee University and plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Their daughter, Brooke, is a high school senior and the reigning USA National Miss Kentucky Teen. The family also has two Labrador retrievers.
The Millsaps are horse racing fans. While living in Tennessee, they returned to Kentucky each year to attend the races at Keeneland. Millsaps also enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and old cars. He and his family are active in their church.
Millsaps will discuss the journey of the St. Joseph hospitals, their adoption of the CommonSpirit Health name, and how they are growing and evolving to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Rotary in Review
CommonSpirit Health Blends Growth, Innovation, and the Art of Healing
Rotarian Jarrett Millsaps, president of three Central Kentucky CommonSpirit Health hospitals—St. Joseph Medical Center, The Women’s Hospital, and St. Joseph Hospital–Mt. Sterling—discussed recent achievements and strategic initiatives at the three facilities. He also shared personal stories illustrating the organization’s commitment to compassionate care, innovation, and an exceptional patient experience.
Millsaps explained that the CommonSpirit brand is being embraced and introduced throughout the community, highlighted by new naming rights for the Lexington Legends’ ballpark. Despite the branding changes, the organization’s fundamental mission and commitment to quality care remain unchanged after more than 150 years.
St. Joseph Medical Center has experienced significant growth, including a 25% increase in deliveries and a 30% rise in surgeries year over year. Millsaps also noted that the hospital’s healthcare provider vacancy rate is 4.5%, well below the national average of 17%. He credited the low rate to the organization’s positive culture and commitment to service.
Millsaps emphasized the importance of providing a holistic patient experience in which people not only get better but also feel good about how their care is delivered. As one example, he described how a medical team cared for a mother experiencing an emergency and delivered her baby within 16 minutes of her arrival.
He also recognized Danny, a hospital cafeteria cashier whose exceptional attitude has made a lasting impression on patients, visitors, and colleagues. Millsaps noted that employees in nonclinical roles are sometimes overlooked, even though they can profoundly influence the patient experience.
Addressing innovation, Millsaps described a new sensory-sensitive emergency room designed for patients with autism spectrum disorder and similar needs. The space has enhanced comfort not only for those patients but also for others visiting the emergency department.
In another moving example of care beyond medicine, Millsaps shared how hospital employees arranged a wedding for the family of a terminally ill patient. The celebration demonstrated the organization’s commitment to supporting patients and families during life’s most difficult moments.
Millsaps said CommonSpirit approaches healthcare as both a business and an art. Its “art of healing” philosophy emphasizes learning through practice, feedback, and continuous improvement. The organization also encourages an inclusive workplace in which employees with varying levels of experience can openly share concerns and ideas.
He also stressed the importance of constructive policy discussions with elected leaders. Millsaps believes meaningful dialogue, rather than the rhetoric commonly found on social media, is essential to addressing healthcare challenges and improving patient outcomes.
Looking ahead, CommonSpirit plans to continue expanding its community presence, sustain a positive workplace culture, and further reduce its vacancy rate. The organization is also broadening its workforce recruitment efforts, including outreach to middle school students, to encourage young people to consider careers in healthcare.
Once again, our Rotary community heard from a major employer whose presentation provided a more complete picture of the healthcare options available throughout Central Kentucky.
— Jim Richardson