Mountain Health Network names Smith Chief Administrative Officer, Leasure as General Counsel

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Mountain Health Network (MHN) and Cabell Huntington Hospital Board of Directors have named Paul English Smith, JD, senior vice president and chief administrative officer (CAO) for MHN, effective January 1, 2023.

Paul Smith

Smith will assume the administrative responsibilities for the growing system to support and guide legal, risk management and insurance services; strategic planning, marketing, and business development; information systems; human resources; and philanthropy. He also serves as the system chief executive in the absence of the chief executive officer (CEO).

“Mr. Smith has been an incredible resource during my tenure as CEO of Mountain Health and previously as the system’s board chair and practicing physician,” stated Kevin Yingling, RPh, MD, FACP. “His insights, institutional knowledge and earnest desire to support the system have made him an invaluable resource to many.”

Smith has served as General Counsel of MHN since 2019. Prior to his system position, he served Cabell Huntington Hospital as Vice President and General Counsel for 35 years. He has extensive experience in healthcare law, insurance, and hospital operations. Smith also served as Interim CEO for Mountain Health Network in 2021.

Melissa Leasure

Melissa Eakle Leasure, JD, is joining MHN as Vice President and General Counsel. She will be responsible for directing all legal, insurance, risk management, new ventures, and related affairs for the system. Ms. Leasure graduated magna cum laude of West Virginia Wesleyan College, earned her juris doctorate at WVU College of Law, and is a member of the West Virginia State Bar Association. She joins MHN from Bailes, Craig & Sellards where she has practiced general business, health care, real estate, and commercial transactions.