Carlene Callis has more than 25 years of experience and is a trusted advisor and thought leader in the healthcare industry. Over the course of her career, she has worked as a health system executive and consultant with expertise in designing strategies and executable solutions focused on accelerating top-line growth and improving bottom-line performance. Currently, she works as an advisor to public and private healthcare companies, including health systems, physician groups, new business start-ups and consulting firms.  

Previously, Carlene served as the Chief System Integration and Growth Officer for Ardent Health and Corporate Vice President for HCA Healthcare. In these roles, she led enterprise-wide and market-based growth strategy, service line operations, organizational restructuring, and operations integration. Her efforts resulted in accelerating growth and operational excellence across multi-state, multi-site portfolios.

Carlene obtained her master’s degree in health administration from the VCU/Medical College of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in finance and business from Virginia Commonwealth University. She serves on various non-profit boards and community service organizations and spends her time with her three daughters and son-in-law. She helps her husband run their local franchise store in Nashville, Tennessee.  Carlene has a passion in supporting the advancement of women executives, mentoring early careerists and educating executives on the key imperatives to create sustainable growth.