Left to Right: Brenda Carlisle, CEO of UAB Hospital. Susan Jennings, CFO of the UAB Health SystemThe University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System has filled two senior positions in its leadership team. Brenda Carlisle has been named chief executive officer of UAB Hospital, and Susan Jennings has been named the chief financial officer for the Health System. Both had been serving in their respective roles in an interim capacity.
“Brenda and Susan are outstanding leaders with many years of experience in health care management,” said Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of the UAB Health System. “They have contributed significantly to our positive momentum and are poised to address the many opportunities and challenges we face. These leaders are talented and dedicated professionals who will play major roles in leading the hospital and Health System forward in our relentless efforts to provide the highest level of health care for all Alabamians.”
Before assuming the position as interim CEO in November 2022, Carlisle had been vice president of Clinical Operations for UAB Hospital since 2017. Prior to joining UAB, Carlisle was chief operating officer, vice president of Patient Care Services and vice president of Operations at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham.
Carlisle began her career as a registered nurse and has more than 30 years of experience in nursing management and health care operations in medical facilities throughout Alabama and Florida.
She received her Master of Health Science degree from St. Francis University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of South Alabama. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization for Nursing Leadership and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. She is certified in Executive Nursing Practice by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and has completed intensive community leadership training through Birmingham Women’s Momentum program and Baptist Hospital under Quint Studer, formerly of Studer Group, Pensacola, Florida.
Jennings has over 35 years’ experience within the health care industry serving in a variety of roles focused on organizational financial health and strategic financial decision-making.
Her responsibilities include financial reporting and budgeting for the Health System and UAB Hospital, as well as overseeing any debt/financing initiatives across the enterprise. She joined UAB in 2006. Prior to being named interim CFO of the Health System, she had been CFO of UAB Hospital since November 2018.
Prior to joining UAB, Jennings spent 21 years with Ascension Health in Birmingham, Alabama, serving in several financial roles that culminated as vice president of Seton Health Corporation.
She is a certified public accountant and was formerly with KPMG. She is graduate of UAB and has completed the Momentum Executive Leadership Program. Jennings serves on the national Academic Medical Center CFO Council.