Published on August 13, 2025
Cornell Named Vice President of Medical Affairs for Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health has named Brad Cornell, MD, as Vice President of Medical Affairs.
Cornell will lead the system’s medical staff office, which governs credentialing, onboarding and policymaking for providers. He will report to Francis DuFrayne, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Owensboro Health.
In his role, Cornell will collaborate with physicians to support Owensboro Health’s objectives for clinical quality and safety, patient experience and cost and will be responsible for performance metrics. He will also focus on physician engagement, retention and well-being.
“Throughout his career at Owensboro Health, Dr. Cornell has consistently demonstrated leadership and excellence, both as a practicing surgeon and as a leader in our organization,” said Dr. DuFrayne. “He consistently champions quality and safety and is well-respected by his peers in the physician community. Dr. Cornell is the right leader to guide our physician culture in the years ahead.”
Cornell practices general surgery at Owensboro Health Surgical Specialists. He joined the practice in 1996, when it was still known as Ohio Valley Surgical Specialists. Cornell graduated from UofL Medical School and completed his residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.
Since 2004, Cornell has held various leadership roles at Owensboro Health, including: Vice Chief of Surgery (2004-2007), Chief of Surgery (2008-2015), Surgical Case Review Committee Chair (2010-2015), and Vice Chief of Staff (2018-2019). He has also served as vice president of medical affairs for Owensboro Health Medical Group and as medical director for Owensboro Health’s surgery service line.
“I am truly thankful for Owensboro Health’s commitment to providing quality healthcare here in western Kentucky,” said Cornell. “I am also immensely proud to work with so many outstanding physicians and healthcare providers. Together we are building an excellent reputation for clinical excellence, innovation, and patient experience, and I am optimistic about the future.”
Media Contact: Jacqueline Russell, Owensboro Health Marketing Specialist, at 270-704-7200 or Jacqueline.Russell@owensborohealth.org.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; four outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.