Tom Patrias named chief operating officer of Tulane Health System

Tulane Health System has named Tom Patrias, an experienced business and healthcare leader with a diverse professional background, its new chief operating officer. Patrias will assume responsibility leading the operational initiatives of the health system effective March 12.

Patrias comes to Tulane Health System from Bayfront Health Spring Hill, a hospital affiliated with Community Health Systems (CHS) in Spring Hill, Florida, where he has served as chief executive officer since 2014. He has had a distinguished career with CHS, leading several hospitals in Georgia and Florida with increasing responsibility and scope since he joined the company in 2006.

In his new role, Patrias will work with physicians and leaders across Tulane Health System to enhance service and quality initiatives and lead facility improvement projects.

“Tom is a talented administrator with a penchant for fixing broken processes and removing barriers for growth, and he has earned the respect of the medical staffs and boards of each hospital at which he’s served,” said Dr. William Lunn, Tulane Health System president and CEO. “Best of all, Tom loves being with the people at his hospitals that are doing the work of patient care. He is eager, energized and delighted to be coming back to Tulane, where he is determined to make a difference for his alma mater.”

Patrias graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and minor in business from Tulane University in 1998. He then went to work as an engineer for Albert Kahn Associates, where he was first exposed to hospital operations. From there, Patrias was recruited to Vulcan Materials Company in 2002, where he managed and directed a wide array of projects for senior management. While working for Vulcan, he completed an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. Patrias’ appetite for healthcare grew while in business school, which drew him to work for CHS starting in 2006.

“I have been fortunate and proud to serve in several great hospitals over the past 12 years. However, having the opportunity to return to Tulane in a leadership role will be the biggest honor of my career,” said Patrias, who is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. “I look forward to serving alongside an outstanding group of medical professionals who are passionate about working together to provide high quality care to the greater New Orleans area and beyond.”