Leadership

Amir Hamad, President/CEO

Amir is a healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience, Amir previously served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, where he oversaw over 1,800 employees and operations for one of the state’s leading acute care hospitals.

He has also held leadership roles at multiple HCA Healthcare facilities across Tennessee and Virginia. Amir began his healthcare journey at age 15 as an EMT and went on to earn a B.S. in Nursing from Radford University and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Grantham University.

He brings a deep passion for compassionate care and agile leadership to Alive as the organization celebrates 50 years of serving Middle Tennessee communities.

Joseph Hampe, Chief Operating Officer (MBA, CPA)

Joe is an accomplished healthcare professional with over 30 years of healthcare financial and operational experience. Joe joined Alive in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer. In addition to overseeing Alive’s financial management, he was also instrumental in the development and groundbreaking of our second residential hospice facility, located in Murfreesboro, TN. Joe has also served as the Associate Director of Healthcare Public Finance at Raymond James Financial in Nashville, TN; Chief Financial Officer at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital in Siloam Springs, AR; and Controller at St. Mary’s Rogers Memorial Hospital in Rogers, AR.

Dr. Martha Presley Tran, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Martha Presley Tran brings deep clinical expertise and a personal connection to Alive’s mission in her role as Chief Medical Officer. Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine, Dr. Presley holds both an M.D. and J.D. from Vanderbilt University, where she continues to serve on faculty in the School of Medicine, teaching Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.

Dr. Presley previously served as Alive’s Palliative Care Medical Director from 2019–2020, expanding services across the TriStar Health system. She also trained with Alive during her residency and fellowship at Vanderbilt. Most recently, she was Chief Medical Officer for Physician Housecalls, LLC, a large, home-based geriatric and palliative care practice. Her experience also includes serving as a Senior Consultant and Lead Physician for Aspire Health.

With a passion for improving patient care and honoring the dignity of every life, Dr. Presley is committed to growing Alive’s impact and ensuring that no one in our community faces the end of life alone.

Fran Doehring, Chief Nursing Officer (MSN, RN)

Fran is a dedicated nursing leader responsible for the clinical operations of our two residences, five home care teams, pediatrics team, and Nurse Call Center, serving an average daily census of 450 patients. She started her career in emergency nursing and went on to become a leader in emergency services and patient safety. Prior to joining Alive in 2018, her roles included Director of Patient Safety at Infirmary Health System in Mobile, AL; Director, Patient Safety, Quality and Compliance at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, AL and Director, Emergency Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Fran earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Kim Patterson, Chief Advancement Officer

Kim brings a strong background in both nonprofit and corporate leadership to Alive. After earning her B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, she began her career in sales and management at Delta Air Lines before transitioning into the nonprofit sector. Kim has held leadership roles at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, excelling in strategic planning, corporate development, and fundraising. With a deep passion for philanthropy and a personal connection to hospice care, she is dedicated to growing community support and advancing Alive’s mission of providing compassionate end-of-life care and grief support.

Teresa Cosgrove, Vice President of Finance (CPA)

Teresa is an experienced finance professional with more than 20 years of experience in leadership and management. She began her career in finance as an accountant and audit supervisor for a Fortune 500 company. After running her own business for several years as a CPA, she joined the Alive team in 2005. She has excelled in several roles during her career at Alive including Controller, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Accounting Supervisor and Internal Auditor. Teresa earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Alysia Jones, Vice President of Human Resources (PHR, SHRM-CP)

Alysia has a proven track record of more than a decade in recruiting excellent personnel and improving HR department efficiencies. She joined Alive in 2012 after nearly a decade working in recruiting and HR for large corporations including KraftCPAs, Delek, Spherion and SunTrust Bank. Alysia earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN.

Krista Ward, Vice President of Business Transformation

Krista brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare operations, strategic planning, and organizational change. She has held leadership roles at Express Scripts, Centene, and CareSource, where she specialized in driving large-scale initiatives, improving operational efficiency, and leading transformative projects in Medicaid, Medicare, and pharmacy services. With a deep understanding of healthcare systems and a passion for optimizing processes, Krista is dedicated to enhancing Alive’s operations to ensure the organization continues providing exceptional end-of-life care and support to the community.