Alumni/ae Spotlight

Jess N. Judy, MHA ('77)

Having begun his health care career as a Physical Therapy Assistant at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Jess Judy has held senior executive positions in a wide variety of health care organizations. After completing an Administrative Residency at Lewis Gale Hospital in Salem, Virginia, in 1977, Mr. Judy was promoted to Assistant Administrator at Lewis Gale, then to CEO of Palmyra Park Hospital in Albany, Georgia, and later to CEO of Southern Hills Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.  In 1990, Mr. Judy left HCA to secure venture capital funding for Community Cardiac Services, Inc. and serve as the CEO of the company.  Two years later, he became the President and COO of Heritage Health Systems, Inc., a company for which he also helped secure start-up funding. In 1995, Mr. Judy moved to Aveta Health, Inc. (successor company to PhyCor, Inc.), where he held multiple positions, including Senior Vice President of Operations. In 2002, Mr. Judy left Aveta Health to pursue a career path as a self-employed consultant for medical groups and various ambulatory services.  In 2003, Mr. Judy returned to hospital administration as the President and CEO of Austin Surgical Hospital in Austin, Texas.  In 2006 Mr. Judy moved to his current position as Gateway Division President for LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., where he is responsible for the company's nine hospitals in Virginia and Louisiana.
 
Mr. Judy is a 1972 graduate of the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia and a 1977 graduate of the MHA program at VCU (formerly at MCV).  Mr. Judy remains an active alumnus by serving as Preceptor for Administrative Residents.  Mr. Judy's fondest memories as a MHA student center on the camaraderie that existed among the class—a camaraderie which he says was still evident at their 30 year reunion!  Mr. Judy advises current MHA students to enjoy their time in the program and to savor the relationships built here.  He also encourages students to take advantage of the many successful alumni/ae of the program in order to identify mentors and learn from their real life experiences. Finally, Mr. Judy reminds students that as they move into positions of increasing responsibility and authority, to maintain humility and live by the mantra of leading by example.

Mr. Judy enjoys spending time with this wife of 32 years, Kathleen, their two children, Noble and Colleen, and their daughter-in-law, Marti. Mr. Judy is also an avid golfer and a fan of Vanderbilt University sports.