After a long, distinguished healthcare career Mike Schatzlein, MD, has announced he will be stepping down effective Dec. 31, 2016, from Ascension, the nation's largest non-profit and Catholic health system. The former Saint Thomas Health CEO will continue to reside in Nashville and concentrate on his work as chair of the Center for Medical Interoperability, incoming chair of the United Way Board, and a member of the Council Capital CEO Council.

Schatzlein currently serves as senior vice president, Ascension Healthcare, and Group Ministry Market Executive with oversight responsibility for the Ascension Indiana and Tennessee Ministry Markets. Additionally, since August 2015, he has served as president and CEO for Ascension's St. Vincent's HealthCare in Jacksonville, Fla.

A cardiothoracic surgeon by training, Schatzlein earned his medical degree from Indiana University before training in surgery at the Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, and in thoracic surgery at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

He later earned an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and began adding healthcare administration duties to his resume in 1994, serving in a number of executive roles with Lutheran Health in Fort Wayne, Ind., ultimately having operational responsibility for all 10 of CHS' Indiana hospitals. Beginning in 2010, under his leadership Saint Thomas Health grew from five to nine hospitals and created the state's largest accountable care organization, MissionPoint Health Partners, now part of Ascension Care Management.