HCA Healthcare Announces Executive Leadership Appointments to Advance Clinical Excellence and Ambulatory Care Strategy
HCA Healthcare, Inc. has announced significant changes to its executive leadership team, appointing Dr. Michael Schlosser as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer and Charles Gressle as President of the company’s newly established Ambulatory Operations Group. Both appointments will become effective September 1, 2026, and reflect HCA Healthcare’s continued efforts to strengthen clinical leadership, expand digital innovation, and improve care coordination across its growing healthcare network.
The leadership transition comes as HCA Healthcare continues investing in integrated care delivery, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and outpatient services to better serve patients across the United States. The appointments also align with the organization’s long-term strategy of enhancing operational efficiency while expanding access to high-quality healthcare in both hospital and ambulatory settings.
Dr. Michael Schlosser Appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer
Beginning September 1, Dr. Michael Schlosser will assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, succeeding Dr. Michael Cuffe, who previously announced his intention to step down from the position effective August 31, 2026.
Currently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, Dr. Schlosser has played a central role in modernizing HCA Healthcare’s clinical operations through technology adoption, digital innovation, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
In his expanded leadership position, Dr. Schlosser will report directly to Sam Hazen, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Healthcare, and oversee one of the organization’s most critical operational divisions—the Clinical Services Group.
His responsibilities will include leadership of numerous enterprise-wide clinical functions, including:
- Clinical quality and patient safety initiatives
- Hospital Chief Medical Officer programs
- Nursing leadership
- Graduate Medical Education
- Hospital-based clinical services
- Enterprise clinical operations
- Clinical performance improvement
- Healthcare quality standards
The appointment places Dr. Schlosser at the center of HCA Healthcare’s efforts to strengthen clinical outcomes while ensuring consistency across its nationwide healthcare network.
Continuing Leadership of Digital Transformation
Alongside his new clinical responsibilities, Dr. Schlosser will continue directing HCA Healthcare’s Digital Transformation and Innovation organization.
This dual leadership role reflects the company’s strategy of closely integrating technology with clinical care delivery.
He will remain responsible for overseeing:
- Clinical informatics
- Electronic health record (EHR) strategy
- Enterprise data platforms
- Digital technologies
- Artificial intelligence implementation
- Innovation initiatives supporting patient care
By combining oversight of both clinical operations and digital transformation, HCA Healthcare aims to accelerate adoption of advanced technologies that enhance physician decision-making, improve workflow efficiency, and deliver better patient outcomes.
The company views technology not as a separate operational function but as an essential component of modern healthcare delivery.
CEO Highlights Schlosser’s Leadership
HCA Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Sam Hazen praised Dr. Schlosser’s appointment, describing him as an experienced physician leader whose dedication has significantly strengthened the organization over many years.
According to Hazen, Schlosser has been instrumental in advancing HCA Healthcare’s clinical capabilities while leading digital transformation efforts across the enterprise.
He noted that expanding Schlosser’s responsibilities will allow the organization to further integrate clinical excellence with innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced digital healthcare solutions.
The leadership change reflects HCA Healthcare’s commitment to improving patient care by combining medical expertise with technology-enabled innovation.
Extensive Clinical Leadership Experience
Dr. Schlosser brings decades of leadership experience to his new position.
Before becoming Chief Transformation Officer, he served as Group Chief Medical Officer for HCA Healthcare’s National Group, where he supported clinical quality and physician leadership across multiple healthcare markets.
He also previously held the role of Vice President of Clinical Excellence and Surgical Services within HCA Healthcare’s Clinical Services Group.
Earlier in his career, Schlosser served as Chief Medical Officer for HealthTrust, the healthcare performance improvement organization affiliated with HCA Healthcare.
Additionally, he held the position of Chief of Staff at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, where he gained valuable operational and physician leadership experience within hospital settings.
His career has consistently focused on improving clinical quality, strengthening physician engagement, and implementing innovative healthcare solutions that improve patient care.
Honoring Dr. Michael Cuffe’s Contributions
The leadership transition also marks the conclusion of Dr. Michael Cuffe’s tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer.
Although stepping down from his executive role on August 31, Dr. Cuffe will continue serving HCA Healthcare as an executive consultant through February 2027.
His continued involvement is intended to support a smooth leadership transition while ensuring continuity across clinical operations.
CEO Sam Hazen expressed appreciation for Dr. Cuffe’s years of service, noting that his leadership has had a lasting influence on HCA Healthcare’s clinical enterprise.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Cuffe helped strengthen quality initiatives, enhance patient care programs, and support healthcare professionals across the company’s extensive hospital network.
The organization acknowledged that many of its clinical advancements were achieved under his leadership and thanked him for remaining involved during the transition period.
Charles Gressle to Lead New Ambulatory Operations Group
In a second major executive appointment, HCA Healthcare named Charles Gressle as President of its newly created Ambulatory Operations Group.
Gressle currently serves as President of HCA Healthcare’s East Florida Division and will officially assume his new responsibilities on September 1.
In his new role, Gressle will report to Jon Foster, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
The creation of the Ambulatory Operations Group represents an important organizational milestone as HCA Healthcare continues expanding services beyond traditional hospital campuses.
New Organizational Structure Supports Outpatient Growth
Healthcare delivery across the United States has increasingly shifted toward outpatient and ambulatory settings, driven by advances in medical technology, minimally invasive procedures, and changing patient preferences.
Recognizing these trends, HCA Healthcare established the Ambulatory Operations Group to better coordinate and manage its rapidly expanding outpatient network.
The newly formed division will oversee more than 2,700 facilities and clinics, making it one of the largest ambulatory healthcare operations in the country.
The group is designed to improve operational integration across outpatient services while enhancing coordination among physicians, caregivers, and hospitals.
Broad Operational Responsibilities
As President of the Ambulatory Operations Group, Gressle will oversee several major business units.
His responsibilities will include leadership of the Physician Services Group, encompassing:
- Physician Practice Operations
- Urgent Care services
- Ambulatory physician networks
- Outpatient practice management
In addition, he will supervise:
- Surgery Ventures Group
- Corporate service line operations
- Ambulatory support services
- Enterprise outpatient operational strategy
These responsibilities place Gressle at the center of HCA Healthcare’s strategy for expanding community-based healthcare services while improving coordination between hospitals and outpatient facilities.
Improving Network Integration
The establishment of the Ambulatory Operations Group reflects HCA Healthcare’s emphasis on creating more connected healthcare networks.
Rather than operating hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers, and surgery facilities independently, the company intends to integrate these services into a coordinated care continuum.
Improved coordination can provide patients with smoother transitions between care settings while simplifying appointment scheduling, referrals, follow-up care, and access to specialists.
For physicians and caregivers, greater operational integration may improve communication, resource sharing, and clinical collaboration.
The organization believes this approach will ultimately strengthen patient experiences while supporting better healthcare outcomes.
Leadership Confidence in Gressle
CEO Sam Hazen described Charles Gressle as a highly accomplished operational leader with extensive experience building successful healthcare teams.
According to Hazen, Gressle has consistently demonstrated strong leadership across HCA Healthcare’s East Florida Division while driving operational excellence and supporting clinical growth.
Hazen explained that the new organizational structure reflects the company’s long-term vision of expanding healthcare networks in response to increasing patient demand.
He emphasized that integrating ambulatory services more effectively will improve service line coordination while making healthcare navigation simpler and more convenient for patients.
Responding to Growing Demand
Demand for outpatient healthcare services has continued increasing across the United States.
Many procedures that once required overnight hospitalization can now be safely performed in ambulatory surgery centers or outpatient clinics.
At the same time, patients increasingly seek convenient access to primary care, urgent care, specialty physicians, diagnostic services, and same-day procedures closer to home.
By strengthening its ambulatory infrastructure, HCA Healthcare aims to meet these evolving expectations while supporting population health initiatives and improving overall access to care.
The company’s outpatient network also plays an important role in reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and improving continuity across the healthcare system.
Digital Innovation Remains a Strategic Priority
The executive appointments reinforce HCA Healthcare’s commitment to combining operational excellence with technological innovation.
Artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, clinical informatics, electronic health records, and advanced data platforms are becoming increasingly important in supporting clinical decision-making and improving healthcare delivery.
Under Dr. Schlosser’s leadership, HCA Healthcare plans to continue integrating these technologies into everyday clinical practice while maintaining a strong focus on patient safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based care.
The organization believes that technology-enabled healthcare can help physicians make more informed decisions while reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency throughout the care continuum.
Leadership Searches Underway
With Dr. Schlosser and Charles Gressle assuming expanded executive responsibilities, HCA Healthcare confirmed that searches have begun for successors to their previous leadership positions.
The company is conducting executive recruitment efforts to identify qualified leaders who can continue advancing operational excellence within the Transformation organization and the East Florida Division.
These appointments represent part of a broader leadership succession strategy intended to ensure continuity while positioning HCA Healthcare for continued growth.
Positioning for the Future
The appointments of Dr. Michael Schlosser and Charles Gressle underscore HCA Healthcare’s ongoing focus on strengthening leadership across both clinical and operational functions. By aligning clinical oversight with digital innovation and creating a dedicated Ambulatory Operations Group, the company is positioning itself to respond to evolving healthcare needs, expand access to outpatient services, and enhance care coordination across its nationwide network.
As HCA Healthcare continues investing in advanced technologies, integrated care models, and leadership development, these executive changes are expected to support the organization’s long-term mission of delivering high-quality, patient-centered healthcare while driving innovation across one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.
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