Grace appointed chief administrative officer

Posted on 8/3/2021

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, announced today that Michael A. Grace, M.B.A., Ed.D., F.A.C.H.E., will serve as the Health System's new chief administrative officer (CAO). Grace started his new position yesterday (Aug. 2).

'Mike's an outstanding leader and seasoned healthcare executive,' Wright said. 'As CAO, he'll provide critical leadership in a variety of operational and administrative areas and work closely with me as the Health System continues to grow and expand its services across the region.'

In addition to serving as CAO, Grace will also serve as the inaugural president of the Health System's new physician practice - the West Virginia University Health System Medical Group.

'I'm thrilled to take on this new role and work closely with Albert and his leadership team and to contribute to their on-going effort to build a truly remarkable and best-in-class health system,' Grace said. 'What Albert and his team have accomplished in just a few years is incredible, and I'm excited to help keep that momentum going.'

Grace's appointment occurs during an unprecedented period of growth for the Health System. Today, it has 21 owned and managed adult hospitals; a new, nine-story, 150-bed Children's Hospital that will open in January 2022; five institutes; and multiple clinical affiliates. With annual revenues exceeding $4 billion, the Health System is West Virginia's largest employer with 26,000 employees and has hospitals, clinics, and physician practices in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia.

Grace most recently served as the interim president of Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton, West Virginia, and did so as that hospital joined the Health System under a management services agreement.

Before joining the Health System, Grace spent 20 years as a senior leader at UPMC, including, most recently, service as the CEO of UPMC Mercy Hospital, a 495-bed tertiary and teaching hospital located in Pittsburgh, and earlier as vice president of operations at UPMC Shadyside, a 520-bed tertiary facility. He also served as vice president for the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and held several leadership positions within that health system's academic practice plan, including executive administrator roles in the Cardiovascular Institute and the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Earlier in his career, he served as director of ancillary and support services at Excela Health System - Frick Hospital, a 195-bed community hospital located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

Grace earned and maintains fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives and completed his bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration as well as a master's degree in Business Administration. He also recently completed his doctorate at the University of Southern California.