Leon Bass, MD, selected as chief medical officer for three Ballad Health community hospitals

Ballad Health has selected Leon Bass, MD, a seasoned physician leader, as chief medical officer of Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Johnson County Community Hospital and Sycamore Shoals Hospital.

Dr. Bass comes to his new role from Johnson City Medical Center, where he has served as chief of staff since being elected to the position by the medical staff in July 2025. He has also served as medical director for sleep disorders at Johnson City Medical Center and Sycamore Shoals Hospital since 2020. Dr. Bass served as medical ICU director in the region’s Level 1 trauma center from June 2020 to February 2026. He has practiced in the Appalachian Highlands since 2012 as a pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine physician, with much of his career focused on caring for critically ill patients.

“Dr. Bass has served this community as a sleep medicine physician and intensivist for more than a decade, and his dedication to his practice and this region made him the right choice for this role,” said Lisa Carter, president of Ballad Health’s Southern Region. “Chief medical officers are a vital part of our physician leadership teams, and their work enables us to maintain a high standard of care in our facilities and across the system as a whole.”

As chief medical officer of three community hospitals, Dr. Bass will provide physician leadership and oversight of clinical operations, working closely with hospital leadership and medical staff to support quality, patient outcomes and operational efficiency. He will also work with clinical teams to maintain high standards of care and strengthen collaboration across the hospitals.

“I am honored to begin working with the exceptional teams at these facilities and join an incredible group of physician leaders,” Dr. Bass said. “I began my career in medicine to help people, and in this new role, I’m excited to extend my reach by supporting our clinicians and helping ensure our patients receive timely, efficient, high-quality care.”

“Great physician leaders understand that their role is to bring different teams together around a shared commitment to exceptional patient care,” said Clay Runnels, MD, chief physician executive at Ballad Health. “Dr. Bass has shown in his previous leadership roles that he is adept at creating an environment that helps our teams deliver timely, efficient and high-quality care. We’re excited to see how these facilities flourish under his leadership.”

Dr. Bass earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency and fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Georgia Health Sciences University, as well as a sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Louisville. Dr. Bass is a member of several professional societies and has authored studies across many disciplines. He currently serves on the Ballad Health Medical Associates Board of Directors.