Academic medical centers are vital to today's healthcare delivery system. They are devoted to providing superior care to patients, while simultaneously amassing assets that will further research and innovation in the healthcare field.
The executives who lead academic medical centers and health systems across the nation are tasked with leading organizations that offer leading-edge technologies, research discoveries and clinical trials.
Note: This list is not an endorsement of included leaders, hospitals, health systems or associated healthcare providers. Leaders cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Leaders are presented in alphabetical order.
Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
Richard Anderson. President and CEO of St. Luke's University Health Network (Bethlehem, Pa.). Mr. Anderson oversees a healthcare organization that spans more than 315 locations across Pennsylvania and serves about 1 million people as president and CEO of St. Luke's University Health Network. During his tenure, St. Luke's University Hospital earned a spot on Watson Health's 100 Top Hospitals in 2018.
Kyle Armstrong. President of Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas). In 2022, Mr. Armstrong was named president of Baylor University Medical Center, the flagship academic medical center of Baylor Scott & White Health. He is simultaneously serving as the president of the health system's North Texas Central Region. Baylor University Medical Center is renowned across the nation for its superior patient care, stellar reputation in medical education and cutting edge research. Mr. Armstrong had previously been serving as its interim president before being promoted to the role permanently. Before that, he had served as the medical center's COO.
Bill Arnold. CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, N.J.). Mr. Arnold has served as CEO for RWJ University Hospital since 2021. In his role, he oversees services across multiple specialties, including the state's largest pancreas and kidney transplantation program and first Pediatric Trauma Center. In addition to his role as CEO, Mr. Arnold serves as executive vice president and president of the Southern Region for RWJBarnabas Health.
Owen Bailey. CEO and Senior Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs at USA Health (Mobile, Ala.). Mr. Bailey is responsible for the management, operation and oversight of the 5,000-employee USA Health system. He works with physician leaders to set strategic direction, operational goals, budgets and other initiatives that support mission, vision and values. Mr. Bailey led a 195,000-square-foot addition that doubled the size of the Children's and Women's Hospital. He also led the system's growth from six to nearly 30 facilities. During COVID-19, he led a grassroots effort to vaccinate the Mobile community.
Jeffrey Balser, MD, PhD. President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, Tenn.). Dr. Balser earned an MD and a PhD in pharmacology from Vanderbilt in 1990 and returned in 1998 as associate dean for physician scientist development after completing fellowships and residency training. He then served as chair of the anesthesiology department and chief research officer before becoming dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2008 and president and CEO of VUMC in 2016. During his tenure in various leadership roles, Dr. Balser led the organization through service-volume growth, expanding the children's hospital and adult critical care tower.
Kate Becker. CEO of University of New Mexico Hospital (Albuquerque). Ms. Becker became CEO of University of New Mexico Hospital in May 2018 after serving as president of SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. She also has experience as the interim president of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis and president of Richmond Heights, Mo.-based SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital. In her current role, Ms. Becker oversees operations at UNM Hospital, which sees 93,000 emergency visits and 7,000 trauma cases at its level 1 trauma center annually.
Alastair Bell, MD. President and CEO at Boston Medical Center Health System. Dr. Bell is responsible for setting the strategic agenda at Boston Medical's 10,000-employee system. He is also responsible for oversight at the system, which includes six entities including major fellowship and residency programs. When Dr. Bell joined the system in 2012, it was dealing with a $175 million deficit and possible bankruptcy. He created a financial plan that turned the system around, helping it reach financial stability and continue to grow. In 2021, Dr. Bell helped the system launch a health equity program that aims to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
Marc Boom, MD. President and CEO of Houston Methodist. Dr. Boom oversees operations at the more than 1,000-bed Houston Methodist hospital network as president and CEO. An internal medicine physician by training, Dr. Boom also serves as the Ella Fondren and Josie Roberts Presidential Distinguished Centennial Chair of Houston Methodist and played an integral role in the health network's affiliation with Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, both in New York City.
David Brown, MD. President of Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Dr. Brown serves as president of Massachusetts General Hospital and executive vice president of Mass General Brigham. He is also a Mass General Trustees Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is not only a leader, but also a clinician, academic, teacher, mentor and administrator. He has also authored mover 250 peer-reviewed works and wrote two textbooks.
Vito Buccellato. President and Chief Hospital Executive of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Neptune City, N.J.). Mr. Buccellato is the president and chief hospital executive for the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore UMC. In his role, he works with key constituents including the community, physicians, team members and board members to promote a wholly integrated approach to providing services and fulfilling the organization's strategic initiatives. Under his leadership, Jersey Short UMC opened the $2.2 million Dr. Robert H. Harris Neuroscience Treatment Center. Previously, Mr. Buccellato served as COO of Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center.
A. Wesley Burks, MD. Dean of the UNC School of Medicine, Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and CEO of UNC Health Care (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Dr. Burks became physician-in-chief of the North Carolina Children's Hospital of UNC-Chapel Hill in 2011 and became executive dean of the UNC School of Medicine in 2015. He is responsible for the 11-hospital health system as CEO. During his time as a clinician, Dr. Burks was chair of the National Institutes of Health's Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune and Immune-mediated Diseases study section and a past president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
David Callender, MD. President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston). Dr. Callender became president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System in 2019 and is responsible for the system's more than 300 hospitals, diagnostic and specialty centers. He is an ENT surgeon with a reputation for forward-thinking and strategic planning. Prior to joining Memorial Hermann, Dr. Callender spent 12 years as president of the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Patrick Cawley, MD. CEO of MUSC Health and Vice President for Health Affairs of Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, S.C.). As CEO of MUSC Health, Dr. Cawley oversees a health system with a campus in downtown Charleston as well as 100 other outreach locations, clinical affiliations and a telehealth network. He previously served as the health system's CMO, overseeing quality and safety initiatives. The health system reports more than 1 million patient encounters per year. He is vice president for health affairs of the university and the first physician executive to serve as board chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association.
Robert Chaloner. Chief Administrative Officer of Stony Brook (N.Y.) Southampton Hospital. Mr. Chaloner is the chief administrative officer of the 125-bed Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, which boasts a medical staff of more than 280 physicians, dentists and affiliated healthcare providers. The hospital trains many new physicians through its graduate medical education programs. Stony Brook School of Medicine provides dual clinical and academic programs with Southampton Hospital. He is stepping down from his role in 2023, according to the hospital.
Seth Ciabotti. CEO at Michigan State University Health Care (East Lansing). Since joining MSU, Mr. Ciabotti has led the expansion of MSU Health Care through agreements with private and affiliated health systems in pathology, radiology, primary care, cardiovascular, neurosciences, ASCs, telehealth, cancer and infusion. He has spearheaded remote patient monitoring and remote physical therapy for the system. He has also implemented a three-year recruitment plan that involves procuring more than 50 providers and acquiring and integrating with several practices in the region. His actions transferred MSU from a decentralized confederation of university departments to a centralized organization in 2020.
Giuseppe Colasurdo, MD. President of UTHealth Houston and CEO of UT Physicians. Dr. Colasurdo was appointed as president of UTHealth in 2012. UTHealth is a comprehensive academic health center and homes various schools and academic affiliations. Dr. Colasurdo is a staunch advocate of uplifting the best and brightest in medical education. He brought pediatric pulmonology and pediatric critical care fellowship training programs to the medical school. He also incorporated a division of medical education in the pediatrics department, and is devoted to identifying novel methods and technologies for resident education.
Elizabeth Concordia. President and CEO of UCHealth (Aurora). Ms. Concordia joined UCHealth in September 2014 and now oversees a workforce of more than 25,000 people as president and CEO. She sets UCHealth's strategic direction and is responsible for clinical operations and the financial success of the system, which includes 12 hospitals in Colorado with a total of 2,000 inpatient beds. Since she took the helm, the health system has focused on strategic partnerships, expanding its footprint across the region and developing new models of care. Ms. Concordia has previous experience as executive vice president of Pittsburgh-based UPMC.
Reginald William Coopwood, MD. President and CEO of Regional One Health (Memphis, Tenn.). Dr. Coopwood oversees 3,000 employees across three states for Regional One Health. He has focused on strengthening Regional's partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, working with them to build an academic medical center in the Memphis community. He has done extensive work with the local government, trying to secure funding for the center's main campus. He also leads Centers of Excellence in trauma, burn, neonatal intensive care, high-risk pregnancy, oncology, primary and specialist care, rehabilitation, pharmacy and imaging.
Robert Corona, DO. CEO of SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital and Community Hospital (Syracuse, N.Y.). Dr. Corona is CEO of SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital and Community Hospital, a position he has held since December 2018. He also serves as the John B Henry Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and senior associate dean of clinical affairs. The health system includes 752 hospital beds and 9,460 employees.
Steven J. Corwin, MD. President and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian (New York City). As the president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Corwin has overseen a nearly doubling in size of the health system, which now includes more than 45,000 employees and 10 hospitals. Along with its affiliated academic medical schools, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, NewYork-Presbyterian aims to pioneer medical research and provide quality care. The health system includes seven academic medical center campuses and Dr. Corwin led the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network and NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Groups to connect patients with the system's providers. He also oversaw the launching of a digital telehealth services suite, among other innovations.
Kenneth Davis. President and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System (New York City). Dr. Davis is president and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System and former CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center. During his tenure, the hospital improved its ranking among National Institutes of Health funding among medical schools, improved its Moody's rating and earned a spot on U.S. News & World Report's honor roll. A psychiatrist and pharmacologist by training, Dr. Davis served as chief of psychiatry at the Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center and launched programs at Mount Sinai focused on the biology of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Leslie C. Davis. President and CEO of UPMC (Pittsburgh). Ms. Davis serves as president and CEO of UPMC with over 30 years of experience in healthcare. Since joining the organization in 2004 as the president of Magee-Women's Hospital and vice president of Women's Health, UPMC has become one of the country's largest integrated healthcare delivery and finance systems. As CEO, Ms. Davis oversees both day-to-day operations and strategies to improve quality, lower costs, and deliver a high-quality patient experience throughout the organization.
Steve Davis, MD. President and CEO of Cincinnati Children's. Dr. Davis is focused on improving pediatric care by improving access, reducing hospital admissions and ensuring world-class care for all. He has helped Cincinnati Children's launch HealthVine, a network of pediatric care providers that coordinate equitable value-based care for 135,000 children and families in the state. Dr. Davis was also the driving force behind a $600 million expansion for the system. He also helped the system implement an operational excellence structure that pairs clinical and business leaders to deliver the best care possible. He plans to help the system open a $99 million inpatient health facility later this year.
Eric Dickson, MD. President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care (Worcester, Mass.). Dr. Dickson became president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care in February 2013 after spending time as the president of UMass Memorial Medical Group. He also has experience as the senior associate dean of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and on the faculty at the Institute of Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Mass. In his current role, Dr. Dickson oversees the thee-hospital health system that includes the 773-bed UMass Memorial Medical Center with about 1,392 physicians.
David Entwistle. President and CEO of Stanford Health Care (Palo Alto, Calif.). Mr. Entwistle joined Stanford Health Care in July 2016 after spending nine years as CEO of the University of Utah Hospital & Clinics in Salt Lake City. He serves as president and CEO of Stanford Health Care, aiming to advance healthcare with better technology application. He also has experience as a board member for the American Hospital Association and AAMC Council of Teaching Hospitals.
Gianrico Farrugia, MD. President and CEO of Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Dr. Farrugia is president and CEO of Mayo Clinic, overseeing the three-hospital health system. He spent four years as CEO of Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville, Fla., hospital before taking on the systemwide CEO role in January 2019. Dr. Farrugia is an internal medicine physician by training and also served as director of the Center for Individualized Medicine and associate medical director for the Center for Innovation at Mayo.
Majid I. Al Fayyadh, MD. CEO of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (Saudi Arabia). Dr. Fayyadh has led King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre through its transition to an independent non-profit foundation. He has ensured that the hospital remains aligned in clinical strategy, patient experience, operational productivity, research and education strategy, brand, communication, culture and more. He has engaged with top priority projects for Saudi Arabia and has supervised referrals, new patient acceptances, medical treatments, surgeries, outpatient visits and virtual appointments. Under his leadership, the hospital has established new centers of excellence, commenced an academic training center, accredited new medical and education programs, and expanded its facilities.
Lucio Fragoso. President and CEO of Children's Hospital New Orleans. As president and CEO of Children's Hospital New Orleans, Mr. Fragoso oversees all aspects of hospital operations and growth. Children's Hospital is uniquely positioned with academic affiliations with two distinct medical schools - LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine. He leverages the hospital's expertise to better the lives of children across the community, state and region.
Julie Freischlag, MD. Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice President of Advocate Health, CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs of Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Dr. Freischlag is chief academic officer and executive vice president of Advocate Health, CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and executive vice president for health affairs of Wake Forest University. She leads the system's academic core and takes ownership of its clinical, academic and innovation enterprises, as well as its annual operating budget of $3 billion. She joined Wake Forest Baptist in 2017. In 2020, the health system combined with Atrium Health and in 2022, Wake Forest University School of Medicine became the academic core of Advocate Health when it combined with Atrium Health.
Gerald "J.P." Gallagher. President and CEO of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health (Evanston, Ill.). Mr. Gallagher became president and CEO of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health in 2022 after serving as COO of NorthShore University HealthSystem since 2017. He has experience overseeing system operations, clinical quality results and financial performance. He was president of Evanston (Ill.) Hospital, the flagship teaching hospital of the system, and has served in leadership roles with Chicago-based Advocate Health Care.
Robert Garrett. CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.). Mr. Garrett joined Hackensack University Medical Center in 1981 as a resident and rose through the ranks to become CEO of Hackensack University Health Network for seven years, until it merged with Meridian Health and he became co-CEO of the new entity. During his leadership of the health system, Mr. Garrett was instrumental in Hackensack University Health Network and Hackensack University Medical Center acquisitions, mergers and partnerships. The Wall Street Journal selected Mr. Garrett for its CEO Council, and in 2016 and 2017 he was named on the NJBIZ Power 50 in Health Care list, claiming the top spot in 2017.
Bryce Gartland, MD. Hospital Group President and Co-Chief of Clinical Operations for Emory Healthcare (Atlanta). Dr. Gartland is responsible for the overall performance and achievement of the seven Emory Healthcare hospitals. He previously served as CEO of Emory University Hospital after joining the system in 2005 as a hospital medicine physician. Throughout his career, Dr. Gartland has been instrumental in helping Emory achieve University HealthSystem Consortium ranking for quality and safety achievements.
Douglas Girod, MD. Chancellor of University of Kansas Health System (Kansas City, Kan.). Dr. Girod became chancellor of the University of Kansas in July 2017 after serving as executive vice chancellor at KU Medical Center, where he oversaw education, research, patient care and community engagement. Dr. Girod first joined KU Medical Center in 1994 as a head and neck surgeon and was appointed chair of the otolaryngology department in 2002.
Jeffrey Gold, MD. Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha). Dr. Gold is chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In his current role, Dr. Gold handles all campus leadership, quality of programs and operations, including seven colleges, various institutes, a staff and faculty of approximately 7,000 and its 4,300 health professions students. He has previous experience as chancellor of academic and clinical health sciences at the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Steven Goldstein. President and CEO of University of Rochester (N.Y.) Strong Memorial Hospital. Mr. Goldstein is responsible for the operations of Strong Memorial Hospital, ensuring organizational success in a managed care environment. He oversees the 250-bed community teaching hospital, which is integrated with a children's hospital, as well as various expanded facilities including ambulatory care. Strong sees around 800 acute inpatients and 39,000 admissions annually. Mr. Goldstein also directs managed care activities for Strong and the University of Rochester Medical Center's affiliates.
Carol Gomes. CEO of Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital. Ms. Gomes became CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital on Feb. 4 after spending the previous six years as COO and then interim CEO of the hospital. Her new responsibilities include overseeing the 603-bed academic medical center, which also includes a newly opened Medical and Research Translation building and the Stony Brook University Cancer Center. During her tenure with Stony Brook, Ms. Gomes was instrumental in planning the expansion of its operating rooms and radiology suite as well as the integration of two hospitals into the health system.
Michael Good, MD. CEO of University of Utah Health (Salt Lake City). Dr. Good serves as CEO of the University of Utah Health, one of the top academic health systems in the nation. He is responsible for ensuring that the 24,000 team members and students affiliated with U of U Health are set up for success. Under his leadership, the system has continued to provide top tier care, education and research.
Robert Grossman, MD. Dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and CEO of NYU Langone Health (New York City). Dr. Grossman has held the position of CEO for NYU Langone Health and dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine since 2007. His role entails the leadership and guidance of over 45,000 employees, students and noncompensated faculty across six inpatient locations and more than 320 sites. One of his chief career achievements has been shaping NYU Langone Health into one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. The NYU Grossman School of Medicine, renamed in his honor in 2019, has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have left their mark on medical history since 1841. Dr. Grossman also helmed the unprecedented initiative of offering tuition-free medical education for all current and future students in its MD degree program. He also created a new curriculum for medical education, helped foster a partnership between NYU and NYU Langone Health, and increased NYU Langone's revenue to $10.7 billion in 2022.
Fatih Mehmet Gul, MD. Vice President of UAE and Group Growth Office and CEO of Fakeeh University Hospital, UAE (Saudi Arabia). As CEO of Fakeeh University Hospital, Dr. Gul assumes overall responsibility for the hospital's operations, strategic direction, and management. His role involves promoting medical excellence and research at the hospital, and applying his expertise in various aspects of healthcare. He is also the vice president of UAE and Growth Group Office, where his strategic leadership help drive growth for various industries.
Suresh Gunasekaran. President and CEO of UCSF Health (San Francisco). Mr. Gunasekaran is president and CEO of UCSF Health, one of the nation's leading academic health centers. He previously served as associate vice president of University of Iowa Health Care and CEO of UI Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. He is responsible for directing UCSF Health towards its mission of growth and innovation. Together with UCSF's research and education enterprises, he uplifts the health system's culture and commitment to advancing anti-racism and social justice.
Veronica Hall, RN. President of Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit). As president of Henry Ford Hospital, Ms. Hall is responsible for managing patient care services, leading daily operations and collaborating with medical staff and hospital leadership to lead quality and efficiency efforts. She joined Henry Ford Health System as a staff nurse in 1984 and later became nurse administrative manager and director of care design before taking her current role in 2004. Ms. Hall is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Rodney B. Hanners. CEO of Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles). Mr. Hanners is the CEO of Keck Medicine of USC, the University of Southern California's health system and one of only two university-based medical systems in the Los Angeles area. Mr. Hanners oversees Keck Hospital of USC, Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and USC Arcadia Hospital, as well as over 100 southern and central California clinic locations. In his role, he led Keck Medicine's expansion of services through their affiliation with the 348-bed, now USC Arcadia Hospital. Prior to serving as CEO, Mr. Hanners served as COO for Keck Medicine and CEO for Keck Medical Center. Before his career in healthcare, Mr. Hanners was a naval officer in the U.S. Submarine force.
Greg Haralson. Senior Vice President and CEO at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (Houston). Mr. Haralson has more than 20 years of healthcare experience, joining Memorial in 2012. During Mr. Haralson's tenure as CEO, the system has seen record-setting inpatient volumes, registered growth in every major service line and has been ranked one of the top trauma centers in the U.S. He also led the system's 7,500 employees through the challenges of COVID-19, receiving several leadership awards, hospital awards and major grants over the period.
Timothy Harlin. Executive Vice President and CEO of University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston). Mr. Harlin joined UT in 2019, overseeing six hospitals and 90 clinic locations. He is focused on cultivating a team of problem solvers, holding himself and his team accountable for a strong standard of work. Previously, he worked as chief operating officer at Denver Health.
Richard Hart, MD. President of Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health. Dr. Hart became president of Loma Linda University Health in March 2008 after spending seven years as chancellor and CEO of Loma Linda University. As a board-certified physician in preventive medicine, Dr. Hart has served as the chair of the department of health sciences, director of the Center for Health Promotion, chair of the School of Medicine department of preventive medicine and dean of the school of public health. He has a passion for mission work and is involved with Students for International Mission Service and Social Action Community Health System.
Ahmad Salah Hersi, MD. CEO of King Saud University Medical City (Saudi Arabia). Dr. Hersi is the CEO of King Saud University Medical City, a tertiary care academic medical center with of experience in multi-facility and multi-disciplinary administration. He oversees three large hospitals, including the Dental University Hospital, which is the biggest in the region with over 600 dental chairs, as well as the established Centers of Excellence. The medical center is a well-known and long-standing medical establishment in the kingdom, comprising renowned experts in various medical disciplines and utilizing the most advanced medical technologies of modern medicine.
Wendy Horton, PharmD. CEO of UVA Medical Center (Charlottesville, Va.). As CEO of the UVA Medical Center, Dr. Horton oversees all clinical, operational, quality and financial aspects of the hospital. She is also the face of the organization when interfacing with internal and external stakeholders. She partners with stakeholders in order to keep the medical center on the leading edge of patient-centered, affordable care while simultaneously advocating for almost 9,000 employees across clinics and disciplines. Since stepping into her role, she has successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic, modernized the healthcare system, fostered interdepartmental collaboration and recruited key leaders to the organization.
Michael Israel. President and CEO of Westchester Medical Center Health Network (Valhalla, N.Y.). As president and CEO of WMCHealth, Mr. Israel has led the growth of the network to nine hospitals on multiple campuses across the 6,200-square-mile Hudson Valley, including regional and area trauma centers, community hospitals, a children's hospital, skilled nursing facilities and multidisciplinary medical practices. WMCHealth has a workforce of more than 12,000 with 3,000 attending physicians providing care to nearly 400,000 patients annually. WMCHealth's flagship hospital, Westchester Medical Center, is an ACGME-accredited sponsoring institution aligned in an enduring academic affiliation with New York Medical College in Valhalla.
Tom Jackiewicz. President of the University of Chicago Health System. Mr. Jackiewicz is helping U Chicago to execute a 2025 strategic plan that focuses on sustaining physician engagement, supporting and developing new sites of service and unifying the organization to note strengths and capabilities in medical education. He also is helping to drive growth for key service lines, including gastroenterology and musculoskeletal, bringing equitable care to the southside of Chicago. He leads a $4 billion academic and medical community with 12,000 staff members. Since joining U Chicago, he has led the transformation of an academic medical center start-up, increased the number of women in leadership at the system and entered a four-hospital joint venture partnership.
Danny Jacobs, MD. President of Oregon Health & Science University Hospital (Portland). Dr. Jacobs became president of Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in August 2018. He previously served as executive vice president, provost and dean of the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine. He also was the chief academic officer at University of Texas Medical Branch, where he oversaw 3,800 employees and trainees. In his current role, Dr. Jacobs is furthering the hospital's mission to serve all Oregon residents and maintain a commitment to innovation.
Catherine Jacobson. President and CEO of Froedtert Health (Milwaukee). Ms. Jacobson joined Froedtert Health in 2010 and served as executive vice president of finance and strategy, chief financial officer and chief strategy officer before her promotion to president in 2011 and CEO in 2012. The Froedtert Health system includes the renowned academic medical center Froedtert Hospital. Before coming to Froedtert Health, she spent 22 years with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Alan Kaplan, MD. CEO of UW Health (Madison, Wis.). In May 2016, Dr. Kaplan assumed the CEO role at UW Health, responsible for overseeing a clinical and cultural transformation that would focus on care coordination. He previously served as executive vice president and chief clinical transformation officer for West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health. He also founded and served as president and CEO of UnityPoint Clinic, overseeing 1,300 providers. A board-certified emergency medicine physician, Dr. Kaplan is a fellow of the American Association of Physician Leadership and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
EJ Kuiper. Division President of CommonSpirit Health-Midwest (Omaha, Neb.). Mr. Kuiper leads CommonSpirit Health's Midwest Division, which spans four states, 28 hospitals and includes its flagship hospital, Creighton University Medical Center. In partnership with Creighton University, the CHI Health employed physician group and certain independent specialty physician groups, he developed a teaching and healthcare delivery model across five hospitals in the Omaha metro area. In addition, he serves on a variety of nonprofit boards, such as the Omaha Symphony.
Joseph Landsman Jr. President and CEO of University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville). Mr. Landsman is responsible for operations at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a 630-bed nonprofit academic medical center that is also a level 1 trauma center and among the largest employers in Knoxville. He is also on the Tennessee Hospital Association board of directors.
Omar Lateef, DO. President and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Dr. Lateef was appointed as president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center in May 2019. He became president of Rush University System for Health in 2021 and CEO in July 2022. His leadership has garnered praise due to Rush's performance during the pandemic; the medical center was the only Chicago hospital to receive the Mayor’s Medal of Honor in 2021 thanks to its contributions throughout 2020.
Stephen Leffler, MD. President and COO of The University of Vermont Medical Center. Dr. Leffler oversees the University of Vermont Medical Center as president and COO, a position he took on in January. He has previous experience as an emergency room physician at UVM Medical Center and spent two years as chief population health and quality officer. He also served as the hospital's CMO for around seven years. In addition to his leadership at UVMMC, Dr. Leffler has been president of the Vermont Medical Society.
Chad Lefteris. CEO of University of California Irvine Health. Mr. Lefteris is responsible for all executive leadership at UCI Health's inpatient, ambulatory and home health centers. UCI Health is the only academic medical center in the Orange County region, which houses more than 3 million residents. Mr. Lefteris has recruited and established a successful team at UCI that focuses on service dimensions, quality, outcomes, overall distinction and community contribution.
Richard Liekweg. President and CEO of BJC HealthCare (St. Louis). Mr. Liekweg became president and CEO of BJC HealthCare on Jan. 1, 2018. He is responsible for a large nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery organization that includes more than 31,000 employees. He originally joined the health system in 2009 as president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and group president of BJC. He later spent time as executive vice president and then president of BJC, advancing operational and clinical excellence systemwide.
Richard Lofgren, MD. President and CEO of OU Health (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Dr. Lofgren is responsible for OU Health, a comprehensive academic health system comprising hospitals, clinics and centers of excellence. He became the system's first ever president and CEO in 2022. He is tasked with directing the strategic vision, clinical and operational path, strategic growth, quality and safety, financial performance and integration of OU Health.
David Lubarsky, MD. CEO of UC Davis Health and Vice Chancellor of Human Health Services (Sacramento, Calif.). Dr. Lubarsky is the CEO of UC Davis Health and also serves as its vice chancellor for human health sciences. He oversees multiple top-ranking entities, including the UC Davis School of Medicine, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the UC Davis Medical Center, the UC Davis Children's Hospital, and a regional primary care delivery network. As the only academic medical center in the region, UC Davis Health is focused on acquiring and sharing knowledge, delivering quality care and offering health equity to the underserved. Currently, Dr. Lubarsky is working to create a digital platform and virtual hospital to usher in a new era of technology and connectivity.
Kevin Mahoney. CEO of University of Pennsylvania Health System (Philadelphia). Mr. Mahoney became CEO of University of Pennsylvania Health System, comprising six hospitals, 11 multispecialty centers, and hundreds of outpatient facilities, in July 2019. Mr. Mahoney previously served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the health system, where he has spent more than 23 years of his career. In his current role, Mr. Mahoney is responsible for leading health system growth and expanding its reach across the region.
Steve Massini. CEO of Penn State Health (Hershey, Pa.). Mr. Massini became CEO of Penn State Health in 2019. He previously served as the health system's executive vice president and chief administrative officer, and CFO of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center before that. In his current role, Mr. Massini oversees the $3.6 billion health system, which has more than 18,000 team members. He previously served as CAO and CFO of Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Clinic.
Patty Maysent, MPH, MBA. CEO of UC San Diego Health. Ms. Maysent is CEO of UC San Diego Health, which is the only academic health system in the region and includes UC San Diego Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion and more than 30 clinics throughout the area. As CEO, she is responsible for managing $3.6 billion in annual operating revenue and overseeing 14,000 team members. She is supervising the health system's multifaceted, multibillion dollar growth and expansion plan.
John Mazziotta, MD, PhD. Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health (Los Angeles). Dr. Mazziotta joined the UCLA School of Medicine faculty in 1983 and rose through the ranks to become the dean of the medical school and associate vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences before taking on his current role in 2015. Throughout his career, Dr. Mazziotta has published more than 260 research papers and been elected to the American National Academy of Medicine and the British Royal College of Physicians. In his current role, Dr. Mazziotta is responsible for a health system that includes around 40,000 hospital stays, 2.5 million outpatient clinic visits and 20,000 employees.
Thomas McAfee. President of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). Mr. McAfee became president of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2022. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is an academic medical center and the main teaching affiliate for Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University's medical school. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. McAfee served as president and CEO of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest (Ill.) Hospital and oversaw four Northwestern Medicine hospitals, five emergency departments, several outpatient facilities, and immediate care centers and ambulatory clinics in over 40 locations.
Cliff Megerian, MD. CEO of University Hospitals (Cleveland). Dr. Megerian leads University Hospitals, a health system with 21 hospitals, over 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, over 200 physicians offices and annual revenues totaling $5.4 billion. He joined the health system in 2002 and has since served in leadership roles, ultimately leading to his appointment as CEO in 2021. Dr. Megerian is credited with increasing physician productivity to its highest level, as well as raising physician engagement and research funding. Dr. Megerian is also responsible for ensuring the health system remains a top academic- and research-based organization, fueled by its flagship academic medical center, UH Cleveland Medical Center, which currently has nearly 3,400 clinical trials and research studies underway.
Adam Messer. President of Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas (Austin, Texas). Mr. Messer became president of Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, part of St. Louis-based Ascension, in 2023. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as enterprise vice president and service line executive at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia. In his current role, he is taked with oversight of the hospital's operational performance, growth, and strategic development, as well as community partnerships.
Carlos Migoya. CEO of Jackson Health System (Miami). Mr. Migoya is the CEO of Jackson Health System, one of the nation's largest public academic health systems. Historically, it has been a leading training site for physicians and other healthcare professionals in the southeastern region of the U.S. Mr. Migoya accomplished a major financial turnaround for the system in a time of distress, all while promoting growth, expanding services and ensuring that services were provided regardless of ability to pay.
Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD. President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic. As president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Mihaljevic leads an $8 billion health system with 10 regional hospitals and facilities in three states and two international locations. Before taking on his current role in 2018, Dr. Mihaljevic served as CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a 365-bed hospital and clinic, and spent five years as chief of staff and chairman of the hospital's heart and vascular institute.
Redonda Miller, MD. President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, Md.). As president of The John Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Miller is responsible for managing a 1,100-bed academic medical center with 11,000-plus employees. Since her appointment in 2016, she has worked to advance the hospital’s focus on providing exceptional clinical care; enhancing quality, safety and the patient experience; and improving health equity and outcomes for patients. Prior to her appointment as president, Dr. Miller held other administrative roles at Johns Hopkins, including vice president of medical affairs for The Johns Hopkins Hospital and senior vice president of medical affairs for the Johns Hopkins Health System. In 2020, she was inducted into both the National Academy of Medicine and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.
Dennis Murphy. President and CEO of IU Health (Indianapolis). Mr. Murphy joined IU Health as COO in 2013 and was eventually promoted to president and CEO. He has experience overseeing systemwide operations of the 18-hospital health system, which includes a staff of around 30,000 team members. Prior to joining IU Health, Mr. Murphy served as executive vice president and COO of Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and as vice president of ambulatory services and financial planning for University of Chicago Hospitals.
David Nelson, MD. Senior Vice President for Health Affairs of the University of Florida and President of UF Health (Gainesville). Mr. Nelson oversees operations for UF Health and the university's academic health center as president of the health system and senior vice president for health affairs of the University of Florida. He is responsible for the health system's 22,000 employees and two hospital campuses, nine research institutes and centers, two teaching hospitals, and two specialty hospitals. Dr. Nelson has previous experience as director of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
Bob Page. President and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System (Kansas City). Mr. Page was appointed president and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System in 2007. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from a single hospital to the second largest employer in the Kansas City metro with six acute care hospitals, 140-plus hospital and clinic locations and over 1,300 patient beds. Prior to serving as president and CEO, Mr. Page was president and CEO of The University of Kansas Hospital. In addition to his current role, he is a member of the Kansas City Civic Board.
Bimal Patel. President of Hartford Hospital and Hartford Region, Senior Vice President of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare. Mr. Patel is responsible for garnering $2.3 billion in revenue for Hartford HealthCare. The 867-bed hospital includes over 7,000 employees, 2,800 medical staff and a large academic infrastructure. Hartford Hospital is a major teaching hospital catering to the New England area, and is affiliated with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. As president of the hospital, Mr. Patel oversees a complex matrix organization, striving to continuously deliver innovative care, research and education.
Peter W. T. Pisters, MD. President of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). Dr. Pisters oversees patient care, research, prevention and education operations as president of MD Anderson Cancer Center. As president, he also manages educational and academic partnerships such as the joint venture with UTHealth to create the MD Anderson Cancer Center-UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. In addition to his role with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Pisters also serves as the cancer center director and principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Center Support Grant. Prior to assuming the role of president in 2017, Dr. Pisters was the president and CEO of the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. In 2022, he received the Luminary Award from the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute.
Daniel Podolsky, MD. President of UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). Dr. Podolsky became president of UT Southwestern Medical Center in September 2008. He also holds the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery Jr., MD, Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. Dr. Podolsky is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and former president of the American Gastroenterological Association. Before joining UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Podolsky held various positions at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Thomas Priselac. President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). Mr. Priselac joined Cedars Sinai in 1979 and became president and CEO of the hospital in 1994. Over the years, Cedars-Sinai has earned a reputation for quality care and community service in addition to advanced research and education. Beyond his role at Cedars-Sinai, Mr. Priselac is a past chair of the American Hospital Association board of trustees and the Association of American Medical Colleges. He was instrumental in developing the Affordable Care Act as chair of the AHA in 2009.
Michael Rao, PhD. President of Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System (Richmond). Dr. Rao is president of VCU and VCU Health System, overseeing the system's academic medical center that includes 20,000 employees. Under his leadership, VCU has grown to include 19 graduate and first-professional programs and VCU Medical Center has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in Richmond by U.S. News & World Report.
Kimberly Russo. CEO of George Washington University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Ms. Russo became CEO of George Washington University Hospital in May 2016 after spending about seven years as COO. With more than 20 years of clinical and operational experience, Ms. Russo has been honored among The Washington Business Journal's 2016 playmakers for the impact she makes on the D.C. area. In her current role, she oversees operations at the hospital, which had 20,777 inpatient admissions, 79,574 emergency room visits and 120,606 outpatient visits last year.
Kenneth N. Sable, MD. Regional President, Southern Market for Hackensack (N.J.) Meridian Health. Dr. Sable oversees Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J., among other institutions, as the regional president, southern market for Hackensack Meridian Health. Dr. Sable was integral in a $300 million initiative to open a new patient care pavilion, emergency department, operating rooms and patient care amenities. Dr. Sable has completed the New Jersey Healthcare Executive Leadership Academy's program.
Michael Sachtleben. President of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Mr. Sachtleben became president of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in 2016 after spending 13 years with the health system. He previously served as COO for MedStar Georgetown and executive director of the MedStar Georgetown Physician Group. He has experience engaging clinicians and implementing best practices in patient service and clinical care. In addition to his role as president, Mr. Sachtleben serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer, Washington Region, for Medstar Health.
Marty Sargeant, MBA. CEO of Keck Medical Center of USC (Los Angeles). With over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, Mr. Sargeant became CEO of Keck Medical Center, comprising Keck Hospital of USC and Norris Cancer Hospital, after serving as interim CEO. Under his leadership, Keck Medical Center has been continuously recognized by U.S. News as a top 50 hospital in the country for eight specialties. Several DEI efforts have been made under Mr. Sargeant's direction, including an interprofessional work group focused on improving language access for non-English speakers and the initialization of a health equity dashboard. Prior to his work in healthcare, Mr. Sargeant served as a F-15 combat pilot in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years.
Emily Sedgwick, MD. President and CEO of University Medical Center of New Orleans. Dr. Sedgwick joined UMC New Orleans as president and CEO in August 2022. In her role, she leads over 2,700 staff members within Louisiana's largest academic medical center, which is a part of LCMC Health. Prior to her role with UMC, Dr. Sedgwick served as CMO at the University of Kentucky hospital system, where she led a multidisciplinary group to improve hospital throughput which reduced inpatient bed turnaround time by 32 percent. Previously, she led the Baylor College of Medicine Clinics and Baylor-Harris Health System's breast imaging programs, where she led the creation of a same-day breast biopsy program.
Jon Sendach. Executive Director of North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset, N.Y.). Mr. Sendach heads operations at the 800-bed North Shore University Hospital. He is charged with directing the hospital’s growth, expansion of new programs, and new construction. He also serves as deputy regional executive director of Northwell’s Central Region.
Leonardo Seoane, MD. Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Ochsner Health, Interim CEO of Ochsner LSU Health (New Orleans and Shreveport, La.). Dr. Seoane leads Ochsner Health's continuum of education, which includes undergraduate, graduate programs, continuing medical education programs and research initiatives. He has been instrumental in shaping Ochsner as an academic institution, contributing to the education of thousands of healthcare professionals each year. His work has been critical in addressing the current workforce shortages and training the next generation via several workforce development initiatives across the state. He also oversees Ochsner's partnership with the University of Queensland Ochsner Clinical School in Australia, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and Loyola University of New Orleans.
Cory Shaw. President and CEO of UC Health (Cincinnati, Ohio). Mr. Shaw serves as president and CEO of the only adult academic health system in the Cincinnati tri-state region. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in academic medicine. He leads the overall health system, previously serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Nebraska Medicine, where he formalized strategies for several service lines.
Mark D. Sparta. President, Chief Hospital Executive of Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center; President of the North Region of Hackensack Meridian Health (N.J.). Mr. Sparta is president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack Meridian Hackensack UMC and president of the North Region at Hackensack Meridian Health. In his role, Mr. Sparta oversees the 803-bed medical center's nearly $3 billion budget and $200 million operating margin. He has led significant transformation at Hackensack UMC in the form of the nine-story Helena Theurer Pavillion, which houses 24 operating rooms with intraoperative MRI capabilities, 50 ICU beds, and 175 private patient rooms. Before assuming his current role, Mr. Sparta was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Hackensack UMC and executive vice president and chief population health officer of the Hackensack University Health Network.
Johnese Spisso. President of UCLA Health and CEO of UCLA Hospital System Ms. Spisso is in charge of UCLA's entire academic medical center, managing billion dollar budgets, several independent clinics, four hospitals and the creation of a diversity and inclusion program. She is also in charge of UCLA's health equity mobile clinic program. Previously, she served as associate dean for the UCLA medical school.
Mohan Suntha, MD. President and CEO of University of Maryland Medical System (Baltimore). As president and CEO of University of Maryland Medical System, Dr. Suntha oversees the academic health system, which includes 28,000 employees and a sprawling network of academic, community and specialty hospitals. Prior to his current role, he served as president and CEO of University of Maryland Medical Center, one of the nation's oldest academic medical centers. UMMC is the flagship academic medical center of the health system.
Kent Thielen, MD. Vice President of Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.) and CEO of Mayo Clinic Florida (Jacksonville). Dr. Thielen was appointed vice president of Mayo Clinic and CEO of Mayo Clinic Florida in January 2019. He has more than 22 years of experience on the Mayo Clinic staff, having served as chair of the Mayo Clinic department of radiology in the Midwest. Dr. Thielen also spent nine years as chair of the division of neuroradiology in the radiology department.
Amie Thornton. President and Chief Hospital Executive of Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center (Edison, N.J.). As president and chief hospital executive, Ms. Thornton is responsible not only for the operational division of the 498-bed Hackensack Meridian JFK UMC, but also the 94-bed Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and the JFK Neuroscience Institute. In her role with JFK UMC, Ms. Thornton has led improvements to achieve key quality indicators, growth in all service areas, and expansion of residency programs. Prior to her current position, she served as senior vice president of operations for the JFK Health System.
Mason Van Houweling. CEO of University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas). After serving as COO of UMC, Mr. Van Houweling became CEO in December 2014. He is responsible for the direction of clinical and administrative services at the hospital and facilitates improvement efforts. He was a healthcare leader and administrator in Orlando and Dallas before moving to Las Vegas. Throughout his career, Mr. Van Houweling has spearheaded efforts to reduce readmissions, streamline billing practices and improve HCAHPS scores.
Shawn P. Vincent. President and CEO of Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). As president and CEO of Loyola Medicine, Mr. Vincent is responsible for the health system's 547-bed academic medical center, MacNeal Hospital, a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, a 247-licensed-bed community hospital. The most recent expansion of Loyola Medicine made under Mr. Vincent's leadership is the $70-million comprehensive outpatient center in Tinley Park, Illinois, scheduled to open July 2023. He joined Loyola in 2018 after serving as COO of Augusta (Ga.) University Health. Mr. Vincent also has experience in leadership roles with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
John J. Warner, MD. CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Executive Vice President at Ohio State (Columbus). Dr. Warner assumed the role of CEO at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State in the spring of 2023. An established voice in academic medicine, Dr. Warner directs research, education and patient care across seven hospitals, an outpatient care center network, a medical college, over 20 research institutes, a faculty group practice, an ACO and a health plan. His career-long passion is patient safety and care quality, and he has long advocated for health equity.
Albert Wright Jr., PharmD. President and CEO of West Virginia University Health System and West Virginia University Hospitals (Morgantown). Mr. Wright is president and CEO of West Virginia University Health System and WVU Hospitals, a position he took after serving in senior-level roles at Pittsburgh-based UPMC. He is now responsible for operations at the health system, including its 690-bed flagship hospital, the state's leading academic medical center.
Michael Young. CEO of Temple University Health System and President and CEO of Temple University Hospital (Philadelphia). Mr. Young became CEO of Temple University Health System in February 2020, adding to his role as president and CEO of Temple University Hospital. He is focused on stabilizing the health system and following through with restructuring the health system, a process that began in 2018. He has previous experience leading academic medical centers and joined Temple as COO in 2018.
Michael B. Zenn. CEO of University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics (Chicago). Mr. Zenn became CEO of University of Illinois Hospitals and Clinics in February 2018. He has more than 30 years of hospital leadership experience, including around three years as CFO of University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics. He also spent time as an engagement partner at Chicago-based healthcare professional services firm Tatum and held executive administration roles at Northwest Community Healthcare and Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ill. He will be transitioning to his new role as senior advisor for enterprise strategic initiatives within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, effective September 15, 2023.