Paul named River Park president

As of Monday, Dec. 1, Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital has a new president.

Eric Paul, an experienced healthcare executive with over 30 years of leadership, assumes the role Neal Kelley, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas regional hospitals, has been filling on an interim basis following the departure of Dale Humphrey, who served as president and CEO of the local hospital since 2016 before his tenure came to an end July 8, 2025.

Paul brings a wealth of experience to the position with a career which includes leadership positions at multiple hospitals, managed care organizations, physician networks and behavioral health systems in for-profit, private equity and public sector environments. He is regarded as a leader who consistently drives growth, operational excellence and improved patient outcomes.

Prior to assuming the president position in McMinnville, Paul served as president of Behavioral Health Services at HCA Healthcare in Nashville. Throughout his career, Eric advanced through executive positions at Amerigroup, Quorum Health Resources, NovaSys Health Network, Sherman Oaks Healthcare System and Charter Medical Corporation, where he built new provider networks, expanded markets and successfully led hospital startups. He has held senior executive roles at IASIS Healthcare/Steward Health, including regional president and chief managed care officer. He also led UnitedHealth Group’s Community and State operations in Tennessee and Iowa while launching major state programs and achieving sustained profitability.

“Eric is a mission-driven leader who understands the importance of delivering compassionate, community-centered care,” Kelley said. “We are confident his guidance will support River Park’s continued expansion and its long-standing commitment to serving McMinnville and the surrounding region.”

Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in financial management from California State University, Long Beach, and an Executive Health Care Management Certificate from the University of Southern California. He is also a Fellow of the Nashville Health Care Council. Paul and his wife have two adult daughters. He is a proud grandparent with two grandchildren, with a third expected later this month.

Saint Thomas River Park is a 125-bed hospital and the largest of Saint Thomas’ regional facilities. With nearly 400 associates and a medical staff representing 26 specialties, the hospital continues to expand its services and infrastructure to meet growing community needs. Recent enhancements include telemedicine stroke services, the return of acute dialysis, new robotic-assisted surgical technology and a renovated 12-bed ICU. Construction is also underway to expand the emergency department.

“River Park is experiencing tremendous momentum, and I’m excited to help lead the next phase of growth,” Paul said. “Together, we will continue investing in innovation, expanding access to care and strengthening the services our patients rely on close to home.”

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