Baptist announces new system chief nursing executive

Memphis, Tenn. –Mary Ellen Sumrall has been named system chief nursing executive for Baptist Memorial Health Care and chief nursing officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis.

Sumrall has worked for Baptist for 34 years and previously served as interim CNE for Baptist and CNO at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. As system CNE, Sumrall will oversee all nursing operations for Baptist. As CNO for Baptist Memphis, Sumrall will be responsible for development and implementation of all nursing and related patient care activities for the hospital.

“I am pleased to welcome Mary Ellen as the chief nursing executive for Baptist,” said Jason Little, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care. “She has consistently done an outstanding job as the nurse leader for Baptist Golden Triangle, which has received national recognition for its quality care. Her commitment to excellence and delivering high-quality, safe care makes her the best candidate to lead our nursing team now and into the future.”

Sumrall graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and got her Master of Nursing and Nursing Administration from Union University. She is board certified by the American Nursing Credentialing Center as an advanced nurse executive. She has worked in management of 20 different areas of the hospital, including peri-operative services, women’s services, in-patient, the emergency department, wound care, administrative house supervision, transitional care and education.

Baptist’s prior CNE Susan Ferguson retired in May 2021.

Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South and Central Mississippi. The Baptist system comprises 22 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, Mississippi and East Arkansas; more than 5,400 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 800 providers; home, hospice and psychiatric care; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by Baptist Health Sciences University (formerly Baptist College of Health Sciences).