Otis L. Story, Sr.

Healthcare chief executive Otis Leon Story, Sr. was born on November 17, 1951 in Anniston, Alabama to Martha Lou and Tom Elbert Story, Sr. Story earned his B.A. degree in the social sciences from Cornell University in 1976 and his M.A degree at the University of Chicago in 1977. Story continued his education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he earned his second M.A. degree in hospital and health administration.

Story began his career at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was appointed as the first African American administrator in the hospital's history. From 1985 to 1990, he worked as an administrator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham-University Hospital; and, in 1990, became the chief operating officer at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of Newark, New Jersey. From 1996 to 1998, Story served as the associate executive officer of The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Then, Story began working as the executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. Appointed by the board of directors, Story was named interim president and chief executive officer at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center in 2001. From there, Story served as the vice president of operations of the Cooper Health System in Camden, New Jersey. In 2003, he was hired as the executive director at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York City, and worked to amend the center’s bankruptcy status. Story was appointed as the president and chief executive officer of the Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. In 2012, the Jefferson County Commission in Birmingham, Alabama hired Story to reorganize Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. From 2015 to 2017, Story served as the chief executive officer of East Orange General Hospital in East Orange, New Jersey.

In addition to his other accomplishments, Story also completed a fellowship with the National Association of Public Hospitals. He served as a member of the Regional Policy Boards at the American Hospital Association as well as The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight Hospitaller.

Story lives with his wife, Ava, in Hoover, Alabama. They have three children together: Jasmyn, Avana, and Prince James.

Otis L. Story, Sr. was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on September 12, 2007, March 20, 2012 and March 27, 2017.