MOBILE — A change in his college major in his senior year has propelled a Huntsville man to the head of one of the largest hospitals in the state.
Rick Metzger, a Huntsville native and graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has been named CEO of University of South Alabama Health Providence Hospital after a national search. He most recently served as interim CEO at the hospital
“Rick is a true servant leader who has already demonstrated success at Providence through devotion to his associates, which goes hand in hand with a deep commitment to patient care and safety,” said Owen Bailey, USA Health CEO and senior associate vice president for medical affairs. “It was clear Rick was the right person to lead the hospital into a new era.”
Metzger launched his healthcare career at Huntsville Hospital the summer after his first year of college at UAH and worked his way up to a service line director at the 881-bed facility. Along the way, he earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from UAH and a master’s degree in healthcare management at Vanderbilt University.
At Huntsville Hospital, Metzger said he was drawn to the surgical department and the hospital environment, which led to him completing the surgical technologist training program there.
“This opened more doors, and ultimately, I changed my major from political science/pre-law to nursing during my senior year of college,” he said, “as I just couldn’t see myself doing anything else other than healthcare.”
Since joining Providence Hospital in 2016, Metzger has held a variety of positions including chief operating officer, vice president of operations and surgical services, and assistant administrator.
“A steady force during the acquisition from Ascension Healthcare, Rick has extensive experience working with teams that focus on patient-centered, compassionate care,” said Dr. John V. Marymont, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, the flagship of the Gulf Coast. “The excitement and pride on the campus has been palpable since Providence became a part of USA Health, and much of the credit for that goes to Rick and his leadership team.”
Metzger also has been recognized for leading the transition of multiple clinical and non-clinical departments at Providence by retaining key leaders, converting or revising numerous contracts, and taking the lead in embracing USA Health systems and culture.
“We have incredible opportunities ahead of us as a health system in which we can rely on our collective strengths and expertise to become more fully integrated,” Metzger said. “Collaboration between the faculty and our incredible medical staff, largely comprised of community-based, private practice physicians, will be key in the future success of USA Health Providence as we work to grow our clinical service lines together.”
Shannon Scaturro, chief operating officer for USA Health and assistant vice president for medical affairs, also praised Metzger’s leadership in both exciting and challenging times.
“Rick has shown a profound commitment to building collaborative physician relationships, improving patient care, and advancing organizational excellence,” he said. “He has exhibited reliable and effective leadership for associates, physicians, and the community.”
Metzger is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business school honor society, and he is a Six Sigma Green Belt, which indicates a professional who has mastered the tools and techniques to improve processes and reduce waste in an organization. He is also certified in nonviolent crisis communication, risk management, and patient associate care.
Part of USA Health, the academic health system for the University of South Alabama, Providence Hospital is a full-service 349-bed hospital providing 24/7 emergency care and a level III trauma center as well as birthing services, surgical procedures and specialty care to residents of the Gulf Coast.
Metzger credits his willingness for taking on multiple leadership roles for his 30-year career in healthcare.
“Quite simply, I was asked many times to step into bigger roles, and I always said ‘yes,’” he said. “I love challenges, solving problems and collaborating with others to improve processes.”
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