Press Releases

Meet the Chairman’s Circle: Michael Ugwueke

Tuesday, 7 April, 2020

Michael Ugwueke

Michael Ugwueke is president and chief executive officer of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare System in Memphis, Tennessee, a faith-based mission driven system that is comprised of six acute care hospitals that includes Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, five Urgent Care Centers, Home Health, Hospice and over 50 owned physician practices.   Michael oversees a workforce of over 13,000 Associates, 2,500 affiliated physicians and numerous volunteers.  Together, they provide care to 1.2 million people in the Mid-South.

Michael was appointed President and CEO in January 2017; making him the 9th CEO since 1918 to serve as the President and CEO of the system.  Since joining Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2007, Michael has held a number of leadership positions; including CEO of Methodist South Hospital, CEO of Methodist South and North Hospital, and more recently, the President and Chief Operating Officer.

He received a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration and Leadership from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston: Master’s Degree in Public Health from Emory University and Bachelor’s Degree from Shaw University.  He is a member of various organizations: including NAHSE and ACHE.   Michael has received numerous awards, including Modern Healthcare Up and Comer, Distinguished Alumni, Shaw University, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and a 2012 and 2018 Modern Healthcare Top 25 Executive in the country. 


The Chairman’s Circle is made up of local leaders whose investment in the Chamber drives transformational change in Memphis. With more than 100 members representing more than 100,000 employees, members of the Chairman’s Circle use their collective strengths as community and business leaders to create a clear path to positive change in Memphis and the Mid-South.

Interested in leading transformational change in our community?

Find out how your investment in the Chairman’s Circle can help us #MoveMemphisForward.

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