USA Health names Chang chief physician executive
The new role of chief physician executive establishes executive oversight of clinical strategy and performance across the entire USA Health system.
By Carol McPhail
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USA Health, the health system for the University of South Alabama, has announced the promotion of Michael Chang, M.D., to the new post of chief physician executive in addition to his current role as system chief medical officer. In this role, Chang will serve as the senior-most physician leader within USA Health, responsible for clinical strategy, physician practice performance, safety, and quality across USA Health, the region’s only academic health system.
“With years of experience as a trauma/acute care surgeon, healthcare administrator, and national leader in quality and safety, Dr. Chang brings a unique blend of frontline clinical expertise and executive insight to this new role,” said Natalie Fox, DNP, PNP-BC, interim CEO for USA Health. “I cannot think of a better leader to champion our commitment to high-reliability, patient safety and clinical excellence, and to advance USA Health’s mission throughout the Gulf Coast region.”
The new role establishes executive oversight of clinical strategy and performance across the entire USA Health system, Fox said. As the executive leader of physician practices, Chang will oversee clinical operations, quality, and provider alignment, including direct supervision of clinical department chairs and service line leaders. His responsibilities will focus on advancing care delivery, improving outcomes, and ensuring integration across the academic, research, and clinical missions of the health system.
Chang, who joined USA Health in 2018, has led initiatives to enhance access, safety, and operational efficiency — most notably establishing a surgical quality program modeled after best practices from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). In January, he was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review 2025 list of Chief Medical Officers to Know.
“It is a privilege and an honor to be provided with a new opportunity and responsibilities as USA Health grows and matures in its continuous journey toward improving the health and providing optimal care for our region,” Chang said.
Nationally, Chang has served as chair of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program at the ACS Committee on Trauma and currently serves as a member and site visitor in the Quality Verification Program at the ACS, a program that encompasses the entire scope of surgical specialties. He is a recognized national expert in quality assessment and performance improvement.
Before joining USA Health, Chang served in various roles at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston Salem, N.C., including chief medical officer for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and system chief quality officer for Wake Forest Baptist Health. He was also executive medical director for the Trauma/Acute Care Surgery service line for the health system and a professor of surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Chang holds a medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed a residency in general surgery at UAB and fellowship in surgical critical care and trauma surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
