Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare – 2010

One of the top leaders in Catholic health services, Ruth Brinkley is the president and CEO of Carondelet Health Network in Tucson, Ariz., and the West Ministry market leader for parent system Ascension Health. Since 2007, Brinkley, 58, has led the four-hospital system and been responsible for the operational performance of the health ministries she oversees. Prior to joining Ascension, she was president and CEO of Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga, Tenn., a Catholic Health Initiatives facility. Educated as a nurse, Brinkley said she was drawn to Catholic healthcare, though she is not herself Catholic. "It integrates the body, mind and spirit in such an effective way, " she says.