Saint Joseph Health Welcomes Jarrett Millsaps as President of Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2025) – Saint Joseph Health announced today that Jarrett B. Millsaps Jr., MBA, FACHE, has been selected as president of Saint Joseph East in Lexington and Saint Joseph Mount Sterling. Millsaps will take over the leadership role at both hospitals on Oct. 20.

“As we continue to align Saint Joseph Health to the needs of Kentuckians, we are excited to welcome Jarrett to our ministry,” said Matt Grimshaw, MBA, president, Saint Joseph Health / CommonSpirit Kentucky. “He brings a history of strong and effective leadership in health care and we look forward to having him on board leading two of our hospitals.”

Millsaps launched his health care career in 2002 after serving eight years in the U.S. Navy. His career began with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), where he served in a number of roles, including in central Kentucky as associate administrator/ethics & compliance officer at Frankfort Regional Medical Center. He served as CEO of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center in Lexington from 2020-2021. Millsaps has lived in Tennessee since 2021, where he worked as managing director and senior vice president of Solas BioVenture, a venture capital firm focused on the life science industry, then as CEO for Tennova Healthcare Cleveland in Cleveland Tennessee. Since August, 2024, he has provided strategy and leadership solutions to health systems through his role at Bancroft Trust Health Partners in Chattanooga.

“You couldn’t pick a better time to be on the Saint Joseph team,” Millsaps said. “Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph Mount Sterling are jewels within central Kentucky, and I am excited about the potential for growth at both hospitals as we reinforce an amazing culture that puts humankindness toward our patients and our caregivers first.”

Millsaps is a Chattanooga native, but is excited to return to Lexington with his family. He and his wife, Leigh Ann, are celebrating 23 years of marriage in October; they have two children. The Millsaps are horseracing fans and have returned each year after moving back to Tennessee for the races at Keeneland. Millsaps also enjoys reading, outdoor activities and old cars. He and his family are also very active in their church.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

“Lexington has always felt like home,” he said. “Everytime we’re there, it just feels like home. We’re excited to make it our permanent home again.”

Jennifer Nolan, Ed.D., who has served as interim president at Saint Joseph East, will continue in her role as president of Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown. John Yanes, who has served as president of Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, will continue as president of Saint Joseph Berea and Saint Joseph London.

About Saint Joseph Health

Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph East

Saint Joseph East is a 217-bed full-service community hospital located in the southeastern section of Lexington, Kentucky. Established in 1983, the facility serves residents of central and eastern Kentucky. At Saint Joseph East, ambulatory surgery, 24-hour emergency care and women’s health services are supported through a vast array of inpatient and outpatient programs. 

About Saint Joseph Mount Sterling

Saint Joseph Mount Sterling is a 42-bed community hospital located in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Established in 1918, the facility serves residents of Montgomery, Bath, Menifee, Powell and Rowan counties. An investment of $60 million opened the current facility in 2011.

About CommonSpirit Health

CommonSpirit Health is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems with more than 1,000 care sites and 140 hospitals in 21 states. CommonSpirit Health provides care at locations across the country through brands you know and trust.

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