Mr. Duckett joined the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation in 1992. He directs all of Legal Services associated with Baptist Memorial Healthcare and has coordinated several mergers and acquisitions on behalf of the corporation the largest of which was the acquisition of Mississippi Baptist Health System in Jackson, Mississippi. Baptist healthcare is the largest hospital based provider in the Mid-South (TN, AK & MS). Baptist operates 22 hospitals and employs over 18,500 employees and has the largest number of employed and allied physician practitioners in the region. Baptist is the largest provider of TennCare and Medicaid services in the Mid-South. As the Chief Legal Officer for the organization, he has overseen several complex transactions that have led to a number of new initiatives in health care. He was instrumental in some of the early physician acquisitions in the Memphis area. Additionally, he is responsible for Risk Management, Corporate Compliance, Privacy and Security, and the Legal and Regulatory Department.
He also served as a board member on the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for six years.
He served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis in 1991. In that capacity he is the youngest ever to serve at 31 and the first African-American to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis.
Mr. Duckett served as an assistant to Senator Albert Gore, Jr., from 1985 to 1987 and as Director of Memphis Housing and Community Development for the City of Memphis from 1988 to 1990.
Mr. Duckett has managed to balance the demands between his family, professional and civic commitments. He is currently serving on the following community boards and initiatives:
- National Civil Rights Museum Board of Directors, Vice Chair and Executive Committee (1996 – present)
- Tennessee Board of Regents (2006-Present)
- State of Tennessee Election Commission (2007 – present)
- Memphis River Parks Partnership (formerly known as the Riverfront Development Corporation)
- Greater Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Member of the Leadership Academy Board of Governors
- Fellow in the Memphis Bar Foundation
- Fellow in the American Health Lawyers Association
- AutoZone Liberty Bowl Festival Association, Board of Directors (2001 – present)
- New Memphis Institute Board of Governor
- Metropolitan Interfaith Association Board of Directors (Executive Committee) (2017-present)
- Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (formerly Governor’s Books to Birth Foundation)
- Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, Member of the Board of Directors
- Institute of Health Law & Policy Blue Ribbon Committee, The University of Memphis School of Law, Chair
- Center for Excellence in Decision-Making’s Board of Directors (CEDM)
Mr. Duckett has also served on the following boards and committees:
- Tennessee Hospital Association, Board of Director, Chairman 2007
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Board of Directors (2008 – 2014)
- Board member of Cadence Bank, N.A. (2005 – 2007)
- Board of Trustees of Christian Brothers University (2009 – 2013)
- American Health Lawyers Association (2004 – 2010)
- Goals for Memphis – Board Chairman
- Memphis in May Board
- The Economic Club Board of Directors
- Commissioner of the Shelby County Election Commission. (1995 – 2006) Chairman (2003 – 2007)
- American Hospital Association, Government Relations Officers Network Council
- American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) Board of Directors. (2003 – 2009)
- Mr. Duckett has been recently acknowledged in the April 2018 Edition of the Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the “50 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know”.
- Mr. Duckett was featured on the cover of Memphis Medical News’ 2018 In Charge publication.
- Mr. Duckett was honored as a 2020 Memphis Living Legend.
