Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has named Kate Dowd senior vice president and chief legal officer. In this role she will direct the Memphis-based integrated healthcare system’s legal department and risk management goals.

“After a comprehensive nationwide search, it became clear the right candidate was already within our organization,” said Monica Wharton, MLH executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “Kate’s experience navigating complex healthcare-related legal matters gives me great confidence she will successfully lead our multifaceted legal affairs efforts and serve as a trusted member of our system leadership team.”

Dowd has a decade of experience specializing in health and regulatory law, most recently serving as MLH’s regulatory counsel. Prior to joining MLH in 2019, she served as an attorney in the Healthcare Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group at Butler Snow LLP.

“Our policies, best practices and unshakeable commitment to our patients enable us to deliver outstanding care,” added Wharton. “Kate’s core values align perfectly with our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Dowd has called Memphis home for 17 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College and graduated cum laude from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. She is a member of the American Health Law Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the Memphis Bar Association, and recently served as chair and president emeritus of the local Memphis Bar Association’s health law section.