Edward K. Aldag, Jr. is the founder, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW), a Birmingham, Alabama-based real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, development, ownership, and management of single-tenant, mission-critical healthcare facilities worldwide. With more than 30 years of experience in healthcare real estate, Aldag established MPW in 2003 to address the growing need for specialized financing and real estate solutions for hospitals and healthcare operators, transforming it from a startup into a Fortune 1000 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to launching MPW, Aldag held senior leadership roles in the sector, including Chairman and CEO of Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. from 1996 to 2003, where he managed a portfolio of acute care hospitals and healthcare properties. His earlier career featured executive positions at Meditrust Corporation, one of the first healthcare REITs, and other firms, where he gained deep expertise in net lease structures, hospital financing, and regulatory-compliant real estate investments. Under Aldag's stewardship, MPW has grown its portfolio to encompass over 400 facilities across the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia, leased primarily under long-term net leases to leading healthcare systems. His achievements include navigating multiple market cycles, executing strategic international expansions, and delivering consistent shareholder returns through disciplined capital allocation and innovative sale-leaseback transactions, solidifying MPW's position as a premier healthcare REIT.