LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An Elizabethtown physician who previously served as Baptist Health’s first chief medical officer is returning as chief strategy officer.
Dr. Jody Prather, who will begin work Sept. 17, is currently chief strategy officer and vice president, population health, for Hardin Memorial Health (HMH) in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. In addition, he is chief medical officer for the HMH Medical Group with more than 225 employed providers.
HMH, which Baptist Health has managed for 20 years, is expected to join the Baptist Health family in December.
“Having a physician as chief strategy officer recognizes our commitment to offering the very best patient care while growing in a purposeful way,” said CEO Gerard Colman. “Jody’s experience will greatly aid Baptist Health in pursuing our vision and growing as a system, building on our strengths and identifying our opportunities to better serve our communities.”
“I am excited to join the Baptist Health leadership team because we have a shared vision of transforming healthcare across our communities to make a real difference in the lives of our patients, both now and in the future,” said Prather.
As chief strategy officer, the 43-year-old will be responsible for collaborating with other executive team members to create strategic initiatives that establish Baptist Health’s direction in business development, growth, partnerships and innovation.
Prather graduated from Centre College and the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at the Trover Clinic and Regional Medical Center in Madisonville, Ky. now Baptist Health Madisonville.
After that residency, Prather went into private practice in Elizabethtown. He then joined HMH for 2½ years as vice president and chief medical officer before moving to those same roles with Baptist Health in 2012. During that time, he was part of the Baptist Health team involved with the acquisitions of Trover Clinic and Regional Medical Center and Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center (now Baptist Health Richmond).
In mid-2013, Prather returned to HMH as vice president, population health, and chief medical officer for its medical group. Chief strategy officer responsibilities were added in October 2017.
At HMH, Prather’s key accomplishments included overseeing several initiatives that resulted in an average annual revenue increase of 9 percent, expanding healthcare services in Hardin County plus the neighboring counties of LaRue, Meade and Nelson to more than 50 locations and growing the medical group to more than 220 providers.
Prather’s community involvement includes serving on the Hardin County/Elizabethtown Industrial Foundation board of directors and as secretary/treasurer of the Central Kentucky Community Foundation. He was named to the Louisville Business First “40 Under 40” list in 2012 and, the following year, among those featured in the publication’s Partners in Healthcare as a “Person to Watch” for business leadership in healthcare.
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