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Will Condon
CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Health System
As president of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, Condon elevates the bar for patients, patient’s families and associates, making a positive impact in his community.
Why was it important for you to stay and invest back in Pensacola?
I’m a local guy. And while I originally started my undergraduate studies at University of Mississippi, I was eventually drawn back home and transferred to UWF. Going back five generations, Pensacola is our family home, and I wanted to get back. A big pull on me was the growth and exposure that UWF was building. I wanted to be part of it. Naturally, my family encouraged the move and was thrilled to have me back home. The UWF culture and community is close-knit and a perfect fit. It felt like home. In 2010, I graduated from UWF with a bachelor’s in communications.
What were your next steps as you finished up your bachelor’s degree?
I’ve always had an interest in healthcare. I was hired as a marketing coordinator for the Marketing Department at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Two years later, I was promoted to Marketing Manager. During my time there, Susan Davis was the CEO. She noticed my interest in healthcare and encouraged me to get my master’s in Healthcare Administration. I owe my current position to her and many other mentors in my life. I didn’t get here on my own. A number of people helped me along the way. My mentors gave me the ability to witness a variety of different meetings about different healthcare topics and issues. After three years as a marketing manager, I was promoted to chief marketing and communications officer at Ascension Sacred Heart. At the same time, I began working on my master’s degree through an online program from UWF. I was working 40 hours a week and the UWF online master’s program allowed me to handle classwork late at night and on the weekends. In 2016, I earned my master’s in Healthcare Administration from UWF.
What has impacted you most throughout your career?
The opening of the Children’s Hospital was the most meaningful and transformative experience in my career. I had been named the president of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital, and my first five months were focused on moving the patients, families and associates into the new facility. The Children’s Hospital was the vision of many pediatric physicians in the community, and it was an honor and privilege to make it a reality. Myself and my team are motivated to bring better pediatric medical care to this region. Every decision is made only if it will make a positive impact on the children, parents, siblings and grandparents that come through our doors.