Samford alumnus and past advisory board member Chris Moore has accepted the role of chief operating officer for Ascension Saint Thomas in Tennessee.

Moore has been with Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham since 2001, while most recently serving in a dual role as the system chief nursing officer and chief operating officer.

Moore’s new role will offer many opportunities through the growing population of Nashville.

“While that excites me, I most look forward to connecting with the associates and providers across the Ascension Saint Thomas health system,” Moore said. “For me, these personal connections are energizing and provide the qualitative context necessary for a leader to deeply understand and prioritize action.”

Moore graduated from Samford in 2008 with a dual M.B.A./M.S.N. while also working at St. Vincent’s Birmingham. 

“Samford was a natural fit for my graduate education for many reasons, the primary driver being its combination of a faith-based mission and true academic rigor,” Moore said. “The professors at Samford created the same expectations of excellence and faith-based support that I feel at work within our health system. It's unique, and I appreciate it.”

The more experiences he has had with Samford, the deeper he has come to appreciate it.

“Samford earns its graduates time and ongoing support,” Moore said.

He has given back by serving on a nursing advisory board and personally funding a scholarship in hopes that it will enable others to experience the uniqueness of a Samford education.