Leadership at Baptist Health Louisville

Larry W. Gray is president of Baptist Health Louisville, a 519-bed hospital that is part of Baptist Health, a Louisville-based healthcare system with more than 21,000 employees in its facilities across Kentucky and southern Indiana.

Gray began his 35-year career with Baptist Health as a clinical chaplain, becoming director of pastoral care in 1986. In 1993, he took on executive duties at Central Baptist Hospital (now Baptist Health Lexington), becoming vice president for System Support and Administrative Services in 1997, a role that included the Environment of Care, Education, Community Outreach, Human Resources, and Workforce Development departments. 

Under Gray’s leadership as president of Baptist Health Corbin from 2011 to 2018, the 273-bed hospital expanded and enhanced its services, including heart, cancer, women’s care, Neonatal Intensive Care, behavioral health and addiction treatment. The hospital has consistently earned high marks for safety, and the Nursing team achieved the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Pathway to Excellence® designation in August 2017.

Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Kentucky, a master of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Kentucky. He has been an adjunct faculty member in UK’s MHA program since 2002 and was named the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus by the university’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.

Gray is an active volunteer in the community, serving two terms on the board for the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and 12 years on the board of the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, with two terms as chair. He has been active in Work Ready efforts in Whitley and Knox counties and served as chair of the March of Dimes Walk for two years. He and his wife, Mary Ida, are involved in several church and community activities, especially around issues of local markets and food insecurity.