DCH Health System Hires Former Appeals Court Judge As General Counsel

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System on Thursday announced that the west Alabama health care provider has hired former Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Scott Donaldson as its general counsel.

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Donaldson served nearly two decades as a trial court and appellate court judge, including an eight-year stint on the bench of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

DCH says Donaldson will begin his work as general counsel on Sept. 5.

“We are excited to have such a giant of the Alabama legal community join us as we continue to grow,”DCH Health System President and CEO Katrina Keefer said. “To have someone of Judge Donaldson’s stature join our team reflects our growing reputation in the medical community. We couldn’t be happier he chose to join us since he could have worked anywhere he wanted after leaving the bench.”

In this role, DCH says Donaldson will oversee the hospital system’s legal matters such as contracts, medical staff credentialing and peer review, regulatory compliance, counsel to the Board of Directors and more.

“The patient caregivers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in the DCH health system do extraordinary work night and day to care for the people of Tuscaloosa County and the West Alabama area,” Donaldson said. “The DCH President and CEO Katrina Keefer has assembled an experienced, hard-working, and dedicated administrative team to provide support to them in their mission of service. I am excited to be a part of that team.”

In terms of experience in the field, Donaldson prior to being a judge provided legal counsel for medical staffs and hospitals including the DCH Health System, which saw him work regularly with DCH administrators, medical care providers and employees of the health system.

“Judge Donaldson already knows and understands us," Keefer said. "He knows the DCH Health System. He knows our personnel. He knows health care. He knows the law. Because of that experience, Scott can hit the ground running on the first day, making him the ideal candidate for the job of general counsel."

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