Ascension CEO Retirement: President Named Successor
Ascension is set for a major leadership change as Joseph Impicciche retires, making way for Eduardo Conrado to assume the CEO role on January 1st. This pivotal moment for the healthcare giant, highlighted within News Directory 3, signals a shift in strategic direction. Conrado, currently the president, is poised to build upon Impicciche’s legacy, ensuring continued focus on quality, safety, and patient experiance. The transition is designed to be seamless,with Conrado emphasizing continuity in strategy and capital deployment. With Impicciche’s tenure marked by significant expansion and community initiatives, the announcement sets the stage for Ascension’s future. Discover what’s next for this leading healthcare system.
ascension Names Conrado CEO as Impicciche Plans Retirement
Updated June 24, 2025
Joseph Impicciche, CEO of Ascension, will retire at the close of 2025, concluding more than 20 years of service, the St. Louis-based health system announced Tuesday. Eduardo Conrado, currently president, will take over the role of CEO on Jan. 1. The leadership change comes as Ascension, a major nonprofit and Catholic health system, spans 16 states and the District of Columbia, with 99,000 associates and interests in over 120 hospitals.
Impicciche has been CEO since 2019, after serving as president and CEO until Conrado’s appointment as president in 2023. during Impicciche’s tenure, Ascension strengthened its advocacy, launched community initiatives, and engaged in national discussions on drug affordability and community safety. His leadership role also included expansion efforts, such as the recent agreement to acquire AmSurg, which operates more than 250 facilities across 34 states.
Stan Starnes, chairman of Ascension’s board, praised Impicciche’s guidance through challenging times. He noted Impicciche’s commitment to serving those in need and driving innovation.
“Joe has guided Ascension through some of the most challenging and transformative moments in our history,” Starnes said.
Conrado, who joined Ascension in 2018, previously served as executive vice president and chief digital officer, and later as chief strategy and innovation officer. He is credited with transforming care delivery, digital infrastructure, and patient engagement. He also serves on the boards of the Catholic Health Association and ArcBest Corp.
Conrado said the transition has been planned for some time and should be seamless. He emphasized continuity in strategy and capital deployment, referencing the amsurg acquisition.
“Joe and I have been planning this transition for a while… it should be a very smooth transition from one CEO to the next,” Conrado said.