Michael O. Ugwueke, DHA, FACHE, is president/CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, Tenn.

He also serves on the Board of Governors of the of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. With comprehensive programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research, ACHE works toward its goal of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to advancing health.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Dr. Ugwueke served as an ACHE Regent-at-Large for District 4 from 2015 to 2018, and on various ACHE committees.

Dr. Ugwueke joined Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2007 as system senior vice president/CEO, Methodist South Hospital, a role he held until 2009. Afterward, he was system senior vice president/CEO, Methodist North and South Hospitals, from 2009 to 2013; president/COO from 2013 to 2017, and in 2017, he assumed his current roles.

Previously, Dr. Ugwueke was vice president, operations, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, Joliet, Ill, from 2004 to 2007; and regional vice president, Strategy and Business Development, Provena Health, Corporate Office, Aurora, Ill., from 2003 to 2004; vice president, Support Services & Strategic Planning, Washington Hospital Center (MedStar Health), Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2003; executive director, Corporate Strategic Services, Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Hospital, from 1997 to 2001; and director, Strategic Planning/Government Relations, South Fulton Medical Center, East Point, Ga., from 1994 to 1997. Earlier, he held leadership roles at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, Ga.; Market Tracking & Research Corporation, Atlanta; and Georgia Baptist Medical Center, Atlanta.

In addition to his service to ACHE, Dr. Ugwueke serves on the boards of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Tomorrow, the Federal Reserve Bank (Memphis Branch), Church Health Center, HealthChoice and on the SunTrust Bank Advisory Board. He also served as a regional board member of the American Heart Association Greater Southeast Area from 2010 to 2014. During his career, he has received numerous accolades, including the 2021 Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award from the Baldrige Foundation and the 2012 ACHE Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award. Additionally, he was named among Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Executives in the Nation in 2012, 2018 and 2020; and a Modern Healthcare “Up & Comer” in 1998.

Dr. Ugwueke earned his doctorate in health administration and leadership from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, a master’s degree in public health from Emory University, Atlanta, and a bachelor’s degree in biology/premedical from Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C.