Up & Comers - 2014

First healthcare job: Hospital environmental services technician at 17 ("I was a janitor”), assigned to clean the NICU. ("I was hooked.”) Published author: Co-authored a children’s book, Daddy Loves You: Whispers of Wisdom from a Father’s Heart, which he dedicated to his daughter.

Gyasi Chisley, the market chief executive for Methodist Healthcare North in Memphis, Tenn., understands the importance of building relationships.

It’s the first thing his colleagues and mentors highlight when asked what drives his success.

Many of Chisley’s signature projects as a healthcare administrator have involved partnerships. For instance, he is currently leading a project with the city of Memphis to transform an abandoned mall into a combination retail and health and wellness space, modeled after Vanderbilt Health’s One Hundred Oaks concept in Nashville.

Taxpayers recently voted to infuse $23 million into the project, which is expected to open at the end of 2015. “He’s very keen on partnering with community organizations,” said Michael Ugwueke, president and COO of healthcare operations at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. “He has an impact on people and the ability to connect with people very well.”

A self-described “data geek” focused on improving quality as a way to cut costs, Chisley was involved early on with the CMS’ accountable care organizations, both at Methodist as well as in his previous role as president and site administrator of Mercy Health’s Anderson Hospital in Cincinnati.

“I really want to make sure we elevate healthcare in the minds and hearts of everyone,” Chisley said. “There’s only one subset that we’re affecting on a hospital basis. But now with ACOs, the opportunity for partnership is so relevant.”

Physician integration is another passion. At Methodist, Chisley established the Physician Champions concept, which assigns physician leaders to focus on one of five pillars—people, service, finance, quality and growth—and promote clinical integration.

Kim Byas, a regional executive at the American Hospital Association, said he encouraged Chisley to enter healthcare administration when Chisley was working in business development at Aramark Healthcare Management Services.

Chisley understands relationships and has a strong sense of how to bring out the best in a team, Byas said. “He really does an effective job of creating dialogue across interest groups,” he said. “He’s definitely an up and comer. … I’m looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish in the future.”—Beth Kutscher