Cincinnati Leadership

Dave Fikse is the executive leader of Mercy Health – Cincinnati. He is accountable for leading its operations, which include five award-winning hospitals and four freestanding emergency departments, as well as accredited cardiac, oncology and orthopedic service lines.

Previously, Dave served as chief operating officer of Mercy Health – Cincinnati. In that role, he was accountable for operations, placing a strong emphasis on service line excellence and physician relations.

He joined Mercy Health in May 2016 from Community Health Systems, where he served as vice president of operations for a division with 30 facilities, including 15 hospitals located in 10 states. Previously, he was vice president of operations for a division with 24 facilities, including 10 hospitals, in three states. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of ValleyCare Health System in Youngstown, Ohio and has held several executive leadership roles with leading health systems.

Fikse received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Planning and Administration from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania and a Masters of Business Administration degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

As chief clinical officer, Dr. Fries is responsible for providing physician executive leadership for Mercy Health - Cincinnati’s clinical enterprises (hospital medical staff involved with acute care delivery, Mercy Health Physicians and Mercy Health Select). In collaboration with COO David Fikse, she oversees overall mission, strategic leadership and the assurance of quality care delivery for those clinical enterprises as well as their integration. She earned her medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed her residency in family practice at Grant/Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Stephanie Meade, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Executive, Mercy Health - Cincinnati

As chief nursing executive, Stephanie is responsible for providing leadership, strategic and operational direction for nursing and clinical care delivery across practice settings within the group and is accountable, in partnership with the Mid-American Group President and Chief Clinical Officer, for the safety, quality and experience of care at every point of service and for the safety of associates and partners. She also leads nursing strategic operations in Mercy Health’s Cincinnati locations and serves as the voice of nursing and patients within executive forums and other groups to inform and advocate for people, process and technology structures. She joined Mercy Health in 2012 as the VP, Chief Nursing Officer of Mercy Health — West Hospital. Meade holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business of Administration and Post Graduate Certificate, Healthcare Informatics from Northern Kentucky University.