New president named for VCU Medical Center
Jim Willis brings 35 years of hospital leadership experience to VCU Health’s flagship academic medical center.
September 19, 2025
Jim Willis is the new president of VCU Medical Center. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Pete Woody
After an extensive national search, Jim Willis has been approved by VCU Health System Authority Board of Directors as the president of VCU Medical Center. Willis has been serving in the interim role since February.
The medical center’s president provides leadership and strategic direction to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and patient-centered clinical services. In this role, Willis will be responsible for fostering a culture of excellence in quality and safety while working with medical center staff and VCU Health senior leaders in the strategic development and execution of premier clinical services and organizational development.
“Jim brings 35 years of hospital leadership experience in the delivery of health care services to the role of VCU Medical Center president. He is a proven leader, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality and compassionate care, while consistently driving strategic growth and operational excellence within complex organizations,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and chief executive officer of VCU Health System.
Before stepping in to the role of interim president, Willis served as chief operating officer (COO) of VCU Medical Center beginning in January 2024 and prior to that he served as interim COO from March 2023 to January 2024. As interim president and COO, Willis led the smooth and efficient execution of all hospital operations at VCU Medical Center that have positively impacted patient care and employee experience, including improved employee engagement scores, implementation of weapons screening at 22 entry points, and increased patient access to VCU Medical Center services.
Prior to joining VCU Health, Willis held a series of leadership roles for HCA Healthcare/Methodist Health System and University Health, both in San Antonio, Texas. In those roles he provided leadership and management to the cardiology service line for three hospitals and led a multidisciplinary team to secure Methodist Hospital’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center designation, among other accomplishments.
Willis received a Master of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Science from the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, Texas. He initially joined VCU Health in June 2022 as vice president of professional services.
