Saint Joseph Health Names Dr. Wayne Lipson as New Market Chief Medical Officer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2025) – Saint Joseph Health has announced the hiring of  Wayne Lipson, MD, MBA, as the new chief medical officer (CMO) for the ministry. He will join Saint Joseph on Dec. 15.

“Dr. Lipson has a wealth of experience in both clinical practice and physician leadership and brings a unique perspective on clinical excellence, patient safety and physician collaboration that will be instrumental in enhancing our operations across Saint Joseph Health,” said Matt Grimshaw, MBA, president, Saint Joseph Health, the Kentucky market for CommonSpirit. “We are confident that his experience managing complex procedures and multidisciplinary teams will translate into innovative solutions and an even higher standard of care for our community.”

A board-certified thoracic surgeon, Dr. Lipson has physician leadership experience in both ambulatory and inpatient enterprises. He comes to Saint Joseph from Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis where he has been serving as senior vice president/system chief medical officer since 2021. 

Before moving to Tennessee, Dr. Lipson worked for Baptist Health Systems, Inc., in Kentucky, where he served as vice president/chief medical officer for Baptist Health Madisonville from 2016-2021, after serving for several years as lead physician executive. Throughout his time with Baptist Health Madisonville, Dr. Lipson co-led Cardiothoracic/Vascular Services.

After serving in private practice for a number of years in Miami, Fla., Dr. Lipson was recruited in 2009 to St. Mary’s Medical Center, the largest medical facility in Huntington, W. Va., as a cardiothoracic/vascular surgeon.

“I have a passion for treating cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the U.S.,” Dr. Lipson said. “I’m very excited to be working with Saint Joseph and its long history of providing high quality cardiovascular care.”

Dr. Lipson recalls visiting with Dr. Robert Sallee, a former cardiothoracic surgeon at Saint Joseph Hospital who retired in 2023, as a young surgeon and being impressed by the legacy of Lexington’s Heart Hospital.

“I’m excited to be part of CommonSpirit Health,” Dr. Lipson said. “CommonSpirit and Saint Joseph represent the highest quality care, driven by a mission to improve the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable. The organization aligns with my very strong beliefs and values, which is very important to me. 

Dr. Lipson earned both a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science in biomedical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, then went on to earn a Doctor of Medicine at the State University of New York at Stonybrook, School of Medicine. He completed his general and thoracic surgery residence at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Business.

He and his wife, Kristi, a native of western Kentucky, have three children, Olivia, Emmy and Alex, all of whom live in Lexington or close by.

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.