DCH Health System Announces Kindred's Retirement, New CEO

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System announced on Friday that its longtime CEO Bryan Kindred will retire on July 31 after nearly four decades with the Tuscaloosa-based healthcare provider.

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DCH also said Kindred will be succeeded by Katrina Keefer, who is currently the CEO of Augusta University Health and executive vice president of health affairs at Augusta University.

Keefer, who has 20 years of healthcare leadership experience in Alabama and Georgia, said she plans to combine the skills and expertise she has developed during her career to drive change, continue to grow clinical services, enhance engagement and improve healthcare outcomes for the patients in west Alabama.

DCH pointed out that during her tenure at Augusta University Health, Keefer oversaw a $1 billion health system consisting of an academic medical center, a children’s hospital, long term acute care and rehab hospitals as well as numerous outpatient clinics.

“I look forward to working with the DCH team and building on what they have already accomplished," she said. "As a public hospital system, DCH has unique challenges, and it is imperative that we have support of our local government entities, officials and community leaders because that is critical to success. From my standpoint, collaborating with these leaders will be a top priority to understand the challenges we are facing today, as well as those that come in the future.”

Keefer will assume her new role as CEO at DCH on Aug. 1.

A Georgia native raised in South Alabama, she previously worked for 17 years in the UAB Health System, serving as treasurer and director of financial operations. DCH said she then became senior vice president and chief financial officer of UAB’s Montgomery affiliate, Baptist Health. She became CEO at Augusta University Health in 2019.

DCH also said Kindred, who has been CEO at DCH since 1996 and has spent more than 37 years in various administrative positions within the system, will remain in a consultant role to ensure a smooth transition.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished at DCH over almost four decades,” he said in a statement on Friday. “We have grown by leaps and bounds, brought new and innovative care to our community and become the destination for healthcare needs in West Alabama.”

DCH praised Kindred's time with the health system, as he oversaw the opening and operation of the system’s first cancer center, spearheaded the building of the hospital’s medical tower for outpatient services and physician clinics, navigated the expansion of the critical care and emergency departments and secured an affiliation with the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“As a board, we are immensely grateful to Bryan for his leadership and his accomplishments at our facilities,” said Jim Harrison, chairman of the DCH Health System Board of Directors. “DCH would not be where it is now without Bryan’s tenacity and unwavering dedication.”

Kindred also said he looks forward to working with Keefer during the transition, and expressed confidence in the health system’s future under her leadership.

“I’ve been honored to work with the DCH team for so many years, and I’m so proud of what we have been able to do,” he said. “It’s gratifying to be able to step away and know that this institution will be in such capable hands. I have personally known Katrina for many years and I know she will provide excellent leadership for DCH and will be a wonderful asset in our community.”

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