USA Health, the health system for the University of South Alabama, has named Natalie Fox chief executive officer.

Fox, a doctor of nursing practice, previously served as USA Health’s chief nursing officer and chief physician enterprise officer, and as interim CEO.

Her work and dedication have earned her a Mobile Community Health Leadership Award, an appointment to Governor Kay Ivey’s Certificate of Need Review Board, and Dean of Leadership Mobile’s class of 2025, just to name a few.

A native of York, Alabama, Fox brings a passion for teamwork from her early high school years, where she played a variety of sports to make sure there were enough players to field a team. This taught her flexibility and teamwork, demonstrating a willingness to step in wherever needed.

Resilience and a strong work ethic are the best qualities she believes she inherited from her parents. “Paired with a deep sense of responsibility to serve others and contribute to something in our community that is bigger than myself,” said Fox. The one rule she lives by is: leave every interaction, organization, and community better than you found it.

Fox recalled the powerful impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on her life, how it reinforced the essential role of healthcare systems. “It challenged our society to come together and do things differently, without a playbook to follow. I saw some of the most creative and collaborative work emerge during that time. It reminded me not to wait for a crisis to innovate or rethink how we serve our communities”, she said.

The one thing Fox wishes more people would think/talk about is vulnerability in leadership. “People often see the titles and the outcomes, but not the moments of uncertainty, learning, or the quiet weight of decisions that affect real lives. I think leadership becomes stronger, and a lot more human, when we’re honest about not always having the answers and being willing to grow alongside the people we serve,” said Fox. And what’s the best piece of advice she has ever been given? “Do the right thing, even when it’s hard.”

Looking ahead to the future, with the continued growth of Mobile and the Gulf Coast, Fox said she is “excited to be part of shaping it’s future, especially through healthcare, education, and innovation that improve lives and strengthen the regions for generations to come”.

Fox leads USA Health, the flagship of the Gulf Coast, the leading academic health system in the region, with more than 40 care delivery locations, including University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Providence Hospital, and the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and physician practices throughout the area. The health system melds clinical care, research, and healthcare education into the most advanced medical care in the region.