MORE THAN A CAREER.
A PURPOSE.

Candice L. Saunders leads Wellstar, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated nonprofit health systems with more than 300 locations, including 11 hospitals and 25,000 team members. Drawing on her background as a critical care nurse, Saunders has become a nationally recognized leader in improving community access to vital healthcare needs and enhancing the patient care experience. She has received leadership recognition from numerous organizations, including being named to Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women Leaders, Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders, The Atlantan Magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Atlantans, and Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs.

Leo Reichert provides advice and counsel to Wellstar’s Board of Trustees and senior leadership team. He leads the legal team for the System and its affiliates, and also leads Wellstar’s government relations efforts. His prior experience includes representing hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers in a broad range of litigation and regulatory matters. Reichert has been named a Georgia Superlawyer for Healthcare Law and has been listed in Chambers USA, Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Kem Mullins creates growth strategies and partnerships for Wellstar, and he leads the System’s expansive network of outpatient facilities. He analyzes and explores new business opportunities based on industry forces, emerging competition, and shifts in a variety of local markets. Mullins has been with Wellstar since April 2012 and brings 25 years of healthcare administration experience. He applies his strong business development skills in areas such as physician relations, team building, healthcare management, and managed care. Mullins is a long-standing fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

David Jones supports the advancement of organizational effectiveness, and a positive employee relations environment throughout Wellstar’s workforce of approximately 25,000. Drawing on his nearly 30 years of experience in HR leadership positions in the healthcare, academic, and corporate sectors, Jones provides senior executive leadership and oversight for the delivery of Wellstar’s human capital strategy, culture design, workforce planning and development, and diversity and inclusion. Many at Wellstar know him as the Chief Joy Officer. In 2021, Great Place to Work® and Fortune named Wellstar one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

Dr. Mary Chatman oversees operations for five hospitals, five health parks and 40+ outpatient departments, and manages a team of more than 10,000, including finance, human resources, nursing, operations, and medical staff. Having started her career as a nursing assistant, Chatman is committed to providing patient-centered care and addressing vital community needs. She has been recognized locally and nationally as a strong patient advocate, leader and community partner. She is a former Cobb County Citizen of the Year; was chosen as an examiner and Fellow with the National Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and was recently honored in Atlanta Magazine’s 2021 “Women Making A Mark.

Dr. Hank Capps advances the System’s digital strategy to design the healthcare system of the future while evolving and optimizing operational technology-based platforms, processes, and partnerships. His team identifies gaps and opportunities in healthcare delivery, operational excellence, and consumer engagement to create solutions that enhance and transform the healthcare experience. Capps is the lead architect for Catalyst by Wellstar, the first-of-its-kind global digital health and innovation center created and operated within a health system to holistically address healthcare disruption by harnessing problems, solutions, investments, and partnerships across industries.

Through a 30-year career in public affairs, John Hatfield has held senior executive positions with large corporations, public relations agencies, political campaigns and elected officials. Most recently, he previously worked in the electric utility industry, where he built strong advocacy and local community engagement programs. John Hatfield and his teams work collaboratively with donors, patients, families, media, legislators and community partners to raise awareness and build support for Wellstar’s vision and efforts to transform healthcare.

Beth Kost oversees Wellstar’s compliance program, including regulatory compliance, privacy, and cybersecurity. She fosters a culture of ethical conduct and business practices among team members and across multiple enterprise operational departments, and provides oversight in the areas of medical coding, health information management, and clinical documentation improvement. Kost has been an active member of professional and community organizations and is currently a member of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and the Honorary Commanders Association.

Julie Teer oversees Wellstar’s philanthropic strategy and partnerships with focus on elevating efforts to secure vital resources for Wellstar Health System. As lead strategist, Teer is responsible for building strategies that align community engagement and education with philanthropic efforts; driving strategic investments to fuel and accelerate Wellstar’s nonprofit mission; and developing strong long-term relationships with individuals, foundations, corporate donors, and funders. Teer has more than 20 years of diverse experience and expertise in nonprofit and national political fundraising, communications, and government relations.

As part of our comprehensive strategy for Wellstar’s future, we recognize that having a world-class health plan is an essential element of our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. Frank is an executive leader with experience within major national and regional health plans and systems. Frank currently serves as the Founder and CEO of a healthcare and insurance consulting firm.

With a wealth of experience in healthcare financial leadership, John guides our financial strategy and teams across the organization, allowing us to invest in the technologies, resources, services, and most importantly, the people, that enable us to deliver world-class care to the patients and communities we serve. Over the course of his 30-year career, John has held senior executive positions in healthcare organizations across the nation.

Dr. Freeman provides strategic oversight for all aspects of the physician enterprise, provider alignment, clinical service lines, and shares responsibility for quality, safety and regulatory work to ensure the highest quality care for our patients and their families. Dr. Freeman is also responsible for furthering operational efficiency and integration between Wellstar Medical Group, Wellstar Clinical Partners and our affiliated practices throughout the system. Dr. Freeman is widely published in general thoracic surgery and comparative effectiveness research, and has held regional and national leadership positions in multiple specialty organizations. Dr. Freeman also served as a physician in the United States Navy, which included several overseas deployments.

Le Joyce Naylor leads the systemwide thought leadership, strategic planning, and implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Wellstar. Bringing 15 years of experience in the field of healthcare, she is a skilled and dedicated leader who collaborates with others across the System to advance DE&I strategies and programs that positively impact and amplify the voices of the communities that Wellstar serves. Naylor guides Wellstar in the commitment to prioritize, grow and deepen DEI and cultural competence initiatives.