Erie Chapman

Erie Chapman, M.T.S., J.D., is founding president and chief executive officer of the Baptist Healing Trust, Nashville, Tennessee (2002 to present). He is also founding Editor of the Journal of Sacred Work (June, 2006). A veteran hospital CEO, he has become recognized as the national leader of the loving care movement in hospitals and charities.
Across his extraordinary career he has served as a successful trial attorney, federal prosecuting attorney, night court judge, producer/host of an internationally syndicated television show (Life Choices with Erie Chapman & Kathleen Sullivan), publisher of a healthcare magazine, newspaper columnist, radio talk show host, documentary film producer, and author. He is also a prize-winning photographer and a music composer.
Mr. Chapman is a graduate of Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University Divinity School & George Washington University Law School.

The primary focus of Mr. Chapman's career, however, has been in the leadership of hospitals and healthcare organizations. Over a quarter century he served as President and CEO of Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio (chosen at age 33) Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, the nine-hospital U.S. Health Corporation (now OhioHealth) in Columbus (founding president and CEO, 1983-1995); chief operating officer of the publicly traded InPhyNet Medical Management Co., Ft. Lauderdale; and Baptist Hospital System, Nashville where he served as President and CEO from 1998-2002.

Mr. Chapman is the author of the widely acclaimed books, Radical Loving Care - Building the New Healing Hospital in America (BHT, 2003), Sacred Work - Planting Cultures of Radical Loving Care (BHT, 2006) and The Caregiver Meditations - Reflections on Presence (BHT, 2007). He is also the author of the children's book, Scotty the Snail (Grandparents Press 2004,) a novel, Ghost River, and a collection of short stories. He is finishing a book of collected poems, some of which appear elsewhere on this site. One of his plays was produced under a pen name in 2008.
The following comments on Radical Loving Care, Sacred Work, and Mr. Chapman's leadership from well know leaders reflect the national reaction to his work:

"Splendid, poetic, and eminently practical. Erie Chapman is a beacon of light in American Health care."
- David Whyte, poet and best selling author of The Heart Aroused

"Chapman has written a book that should be in the hands of every healthcare executive who truly believes in the core mission of taking care of others. Anyone who leads a healthcare organization of any kind should read this book."
- Chuck Lauer, publisher, Modern Healthcare magazine.

"No one is doing more to affect the delivery of healthcare than is Erie Chapman."
-George Mikitarian, President & CEO, Parrish Medical Center of Florida

"Bravo to Erie Chapman for his astounding leadership and unparalleled assault on the status quo. His efforts will transform healthcare into something truly better for all Americans."
-Gerry Mayo, Founding Chair, OhioHealth Corporation.

"Erie Chapman created one of the most employee-friendly workplaces in America and [led] Riverside Methodist to be rated one of the top ten hospitals in the country."
-Forrest Sawyer, Host, ABC News Special National Broadcast, 'Revolution at Work.'

Mr. Chapman's music compositions are available on three separate CDs through the Baptist Healing Trust. Two of his films, Sacred Work and The Servant's Heart are also available through the Baptist Healing Trust at www.healinghospital.org.

Erie and his wife, Kirsten, a prize-winning journalist and author of The Way Home and Home Again, live in Nashville. They have two children and two grandchildren.