KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), one of the nation's leading hospital management companies, announced today that Kevin J. Gross will join UHS as Senior Vice President and President of the Acute Care Division. Mr. Gross will be responsible for Acute Care hospital operations.

Mr. Gross is the former President of Ardent Health Services, Oklahoma Division, where he managed a nine-hospital system. He also served as President and CEO for the United Regional Health Care System, and he was President of the Midwest Division of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation. From 1988 until 1994, Mr. Gross held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, which is now owned by UHS.

"We are very pleased to welcome Kevin to UHS as part of our senior management team," said Alan B. Miller, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of UHS. "His 23 years of executive experience in acute care, long-term and outpatient service, along with his record of success in clinical and financial areas are exactly what we were looking for. We are confident that Kevin will be a major contributor to the continued growth and success of our Acute Care hospitals."

Mr. Gross holds a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Universal Health Services, Inc., headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, operates acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide and in Puerto Rico. UHS acts as advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT), a real estate investment trust.

For additional information on the Company, visit our Web site: http://www.uhsinc.com.

SOURCE: Universal Health Services, Inc.

CONTACT: Steve Filton, Universal Health Services, Inc., +1-610-768-3300/ /Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/916225.html