February 2, 2026, Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi Healthcare Alliance (MHA) is pleased to announce that Patricia Freeman, BSN, RN, has accepted the role of Executive Director, bringing more than four decades of clinical, quality improvement, and healthcare leadership experience to the organization.

Freeman is a highly respected nurse leader and healthcare quality expert, recently retired from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), where she served in progressive leadership roles for more than 24 years. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes, advancing statewide quality initiatives, and fostering collaboration across healthcare systems.

Notably, Freeman previously served as Interim Executive Director of the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance in 2012 and volunteered as the Central Regional STEMI Coordinator, helping to strengthen Mississippi’s statewide response to acute cardiac events. Her longstanding relationship with the Alliance and proven leadership make her uniquely positioned to guide MHCA’s next chapter.

“Patricia brings unmatched institutional knowledge, credibility, and passion for improving healthcare across Mississippi,” said Harper Stone, MD, FACHE, President of the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance Board of Directors. “Her leadership in quality improvement, cardiovascular care, and statewide collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission.”

During her tenure at UMMC, Freeman served as Manager of Clinical Outcomes and Analysis for University Heart and University Transplant, overseeing quality programs for heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, and transplant services. She managed more than a dozen national quality databases, led hospital-wide performance improvement initiatives, and educated multidisciplinary teams on CMS, UNOS, and The Joint Commission requirements.

Earlier in her career, Freeman was the first RN Clinical Outcomes Coordinator at UMMC, served as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant co-investigator and project manager, and led statewide STEMI quality initiatives in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health and emergency medical services.

“I am honored to return to the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance in this role,” Freeman said. “The Alliance plays a critical role in uniting providers, improving outcomes, and advancing quality across our state. I look forward to building on its strong foundation and continuing the important work of collaboration and innovation.”

Freeman holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi School of Nursing and maintains an active registered nursing license. She has been recognized throughout her career for excellence in nursing leadership and quality improvement, including receiving UMMC’s Nurse in a Non-Traditional Setting of the Year Award.

As Executive Director, Freeman will lead the Alliance’s strategic initiatives, support member organizations, and continue advancing statewide efforts in cardiovascular, neurological, maternal fetal medicine systems of care and quality improvement programs.

For more information about the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance, visit www.mshealthcarealliance.org.

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