Kelly joins St. Mary’s and Prime healthcare with 12 years of healthcare leadership. Most recently he served as Vice President of Hospital Operations at SSM Health DePaul Hospital in St. Louis where he was responsible for daily operations of a 523-bed acute care hospital. Prior to DePaul Hospital, Kelly served as Vice President, Hospital Operations, at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital, a 180-bed acute care hospital in St. Louis and as Administrative Director, Nursing Operations, for SSM Health.

Pearce, 43, earned his master’s degree in Health Administration at the University of Missouri and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, at Deaconess College of Nursing, now Chamberlain College of Nursing. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and earned his silver and bronze certification in Lean Management. A member of the Empower Scholarship Fund (ESF) board since 2015, Pearce now serves as its president. ESF raises and awards monetary scholarships for students of Adtalem University’s nursing, medical and veterinary schools.

Pearce is married with four children ages 12, 15, 16 and 18. He enjoys playing men’s league hockey, hunting and staying active with his children who participate in ice and field hockey, lacrosse and soccer.