Academic medical center CEOs are at the helm of some of the most complex and influential organizations in healthcare. They balance a three-part mission that includes delivering exceptional patient care, advancing cutting-edge research, and leading world-class education.

These executives guide institutions that serve as hubs for discovery and innovation, overseeing groundbreaking clinical trials, pioneering technologies and novel treatment models. Beyond the hospital walls, academic medical center CEOs often collaborate with government agencies, research partners and community organizations to expand access to care and improve public health.

Note: Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on nominations and editorial research. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it 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. We extend a special thank you to Rhoda Weiss for her contributions to this list.

Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.

Steve Arner. President and CEO at Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). Mr. Arner leads a $2.6 billion integrated academic health system of seven hospitals, 1,000-plus clinicians, and more than 330 trainees serving nearly one million people. He has driven a $1 billion capital program, which includes the $500 million Crystal Spring Tower and one of Virginia’s largest emergency departments, while expanding ambulatory sites and children’s services. Under his leadership, Carilion Clinic advanced systemwide innovation from a globally recognized transfer and communications center to drone logistics pilots for mountainous regions. Mr. Arner has worked to deepen academic partnerships with Virginia Tech, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Radford University to accelerate discovery and workforce growth. A former COO and hospital president, he became president of the academic health system in 2023 and took on the president and CEO role in 2024.

Bill Arnold. Executive Vice President and President of RWJBarnabas Health’s Southern Region and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, N.J.). Mr. Arnold leads RWJBarnabas Health’s Southern region and the system’s academic flagship, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, a 628-bed quaternary center and hub for Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. As leader of the academic medical center, he oversees level 1 adult and level 2 pediatric trauma services, advanced heart failure and transplant, the state’s largest kidney and pancreas transplant program, cancer, neuroscience, advanced endoscopy, high-risk bariatrics, and women’s and children’s care. Since 2021, he has been a key player in accelerating academic integration with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, recruiting top clinical leaders across medicine, surgery, pediatrics and key subspecialties, launching more than $2 billion in capital projects like the state’s first freestanding cancer hospital, a 16-story ambulatory services pavilion and a multi-year transformation of surgical services, and in advancing the RWJBarnabas–Rutgers integrated practice agreement and the HELIX research and innovation ecosystem. Under his leadership, the academic medical center has earned repeated U.S. News & World Report regional recognition with 11 “high performing” ratings, Magnet redesignation, Newsweek “Best-in-State” honors and much more. He also serves as immediate past chair and trustee of the New Jersey Hospital Association.

Michael Ash, MD. CEO of Nebraska Medicine (Omaha, Neb.). Dr. Ash was named CEO of Nebraska Medicine in July 2025 after serving as the system’s COO. He has spent more than a decade with Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, advancing digital innovation, patient safety and operational excellence. Earlier in his career, he served as chief medical officer for Cerner Corporation, now Oracle Health, and practiced as an internal medicine physician. A recognized innovator, Dr. Ash holds more than a dozen patents in health care technology. His leadership is guided by a vision of world-class health care defined by zero harm, personalized treatment and seamless teamwork. He is steering the health system to harness AI and operational transformation to deliver safer, more compassionate and more equitable care.

Jeffrey Balser, MD, PhD. President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.). Dr. Balser joined Vanderbilt professionally in 1998 as associate dean for physician scientist development. 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.

Jason Barrett. CEO of The George Washington University Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Mr. Barrett became CEO of The George Washington University Hospital in August 2025, and also serves as group vice president for the Washington, D.C. market. In this role, he oversees the flagship academic hospital as well as the recently opened Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health. Mr. Barrett brings more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, with expertise in hospital operations, service expansion and strategic growth. He joined King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services in 2023 as CEO of Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, Texas. Prior to that, he held multiple senior leadership roles across community and academic health systems. In his current role, Mr. Barrett is focused on strengthening academic partnerships, advancing quality and expanding access to care in the nation’s capital.

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. As CEO of Boston Medical Center, Dr. Bell leads the workforce and oversees the academic health system’s seven entities comprising BMC, WellSense Health Plan, Boston University Medical Group, Boston HealthNet, Boston ACO, Clearway Health and Brockton Behavioral Health Center. Under Dr. Bell’s leadership, BMC Health System emphasizes health equity and access by managing coordinated care for over 200,000 Quincy-based MassHealth patients and offering specialized behavioral health services. He also led a major state-approved expansion that doubled the number of ACOs that partner with the health system, making the health system and its health plan, WellSense, the largest Medicaid provider in Massachusetts.

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.

Lisa M. Boyle, MD. President of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Senior Vice President for MedStar Health (Washington, D.C.). Dr. Boyle serves as president of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and senior vice president for MedStar Health. Before assuming the role, she served in various physician leadership positions at MedStar Washington Hospital Center for two decades. In addition, she has been interim president, vice president and secretary of the medical staff and served for two years as the chair of the MedStar Health Medical Policy Committee. Outside of her administrative role, she treats patients and performs almost 200 surgeries per year at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

David Brown, MD. President of Academic Medical Centers at Massachusetts General Brigham (Boston). Dr. Brown serves as president of academic medical centers at Massachusetts General Brigham. He is also a Mass General Trustees professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School. In addition to his leadership roles, he is a clinician, academic, teacher, mentor and administrator. He has also authored over 250 peer-reviewed works and written two textbooks. Prior to his current role, he served as president of Massachusetts General Hospital from 2021 to 2024.

Dawn Bulgarella. CEO of UAB Health System and UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance (Birmingham, Ala.). In 2023, Ms. Bulgarella was unanimously named CEO of UAB Health System, one of the largest public health systems in the country and the largest in Alabama, as well as CEO of UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance. The system’s flagship, UAB University Hospital, boasts over 1,200 licensed beds. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Bulgarella had been serving in an interim capacity since 2022. She brings over three decades of experience within the UAB system to the role. Ms. Bulgarella aims to further expand healthcare accessibility across the state.

Joseph Cacchione, MD. CEO at Jefferson (Philadelphia). Dr. Cacchione leads Jefferson’s integrated enterprise, which includes an academic health care delivery system, a national research university and a nonprofit health plan. He oversees 32 hospitals, more than 700 sites of care, a workforce of over 65,000 and more than 370,000 health plan members, alongside 10 schools with more than 200 degree programs. He has steered the organization through transformative milestones, including the August 2024 combination with Lehigh Valley Health Network to create a top-15 nonprofit health system and the opening of the $762 million Honickman Center, which served more than 295,000 outpatient visits in its first year. Dr. Cacchione launched a systemwide social determinants of health initiative that has collected data from more than 500,000 patients and powers “JeffCARES”, a formal community engagement program to reduce disparities. He catalyzed Jefferson’s bicentennial service initiative, surpassing a goal of 200,000 volunteer hours, and helped drive nearly $1.5 billion in community benefit over two years. An advocate for cardiovascular health and equitable access, he chairs the policy committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, recently chaired the American Heart Association’s Philadelphia Heart Ball, and in 2025 received a contract extension through 2029 in recognition of his impact.

David Callecod. CEO of Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana (Shreveport, La.). Mr. Callecod was named CEO of Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana in 2025 after serving as interim CEO since November 2024. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience, including his tenure as CEO of Lafayette (La.) General Health System, now Ochsner Lafayette General, where he guided a seven-hospital system with two teaching hospitals and six clinical affiliates. He previously served as interim CEO of Ochsner LSU Health from 2021 to 2022, deepening his knowledge of the region and the system. Between health system leadership roles, he founded Callecod Advisory Group, consulting for healthcare startups and confirming his passion for patient- and employee-centered care. Now as CEO, Mr. Callecod is focused on strengthening patient outcomes and elevating the employee experience across the North Louisiana system.

David L. Callender, MD. President and CEO at Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston). Dr. Callender leads Memorial Hermann Health System, Greater Houston’s largest community-owned nonprofit system, and has embedded a quintuple aim–driven value framework across care, operations and equity. Under his leadership, clinical care redesign delivered reductions in length of stay and cost per case, systemwide quality gains and higher patient satisfaction across over 1.8 million encounters. The system completed an enterprise Epic go-live across approximately 270 sites and 15 hospitals, S&P upgraded the system to “AA-“, and Moody’s affirmed “Aa3”. Culture investments led by Dr. Callender cut turnover by 35% since 2021, expanded employee resource groups, and scaled recognition and wellbeing programs. Community impact includes launching the Bloomberg-funded HEAL High School in partnership with Aldine ISD. In addition, the Institute for Health Access & Engagement targets social determinants of health throughout Houston.

Brendan Carr, MD. CEO of Mount Sinai Health System (New York City). Dr. Carr serves as CEO for Mount Sinai Health System, an academic medical system boasting over 43,000 employees across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, almost 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a school of medicine and graduate education. In addition to his administrative role, he is a professor and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair of Mount Sinai Health System. Prior to becoming CEO in 2024, Dr. Carr served as head of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai since February 2020.

Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD. Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of University of Utah Health (Salt Lake City, Utah). Dr. Carter leads University of Utah Health, where he oversees the professional and educational success of more than 27,000 faculty, staff and students at one of the nation’s premier academic health centers. He joined the university in 2025 after serving as the William and Elizabeth Sweet Endowed Professor in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and as neurosurgeon-in-chief at Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. A nationally recognized neurosurgical oncologist, Dr. Carter has built a career advancing patient care through both surgical innovation and scientific discovery. His research contributions span clinical and translational neuroscience, where he has authored influential publications and led groundbreaking studies. In recognition of his impact, Dr. Carter was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024.

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.

Howard B. Chrisman, MD. President and CEO of Northwestern Medicine (Chicago). Dr. Chrisman first joined Northwestern Medicine in 1997, faithfully serving as a leader and an active clinician since. In his current role, he oversees the Northwestern Medicine healthcare system, spanning hospitals, ambulatory and diagnostic sites. This includes Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an academic medical center that is the primary teaching affiliate for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Chrisman’s prior roles include president and COO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, executive vice president of clinical operations and president of Northwestern Medical Group. Dr. Chrisman is also a professor of radiology and surgery, as well as an active clinician.

Stephanie Conners, BSN, RN. President and CEO at BayCare Health System (Clearwater, Fla.). Ms. Conners leads BayCare Health System, a $6 billion nonprofit academic health system with more than 33,000 employees, 16 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities. She has advanced access to care by opening Florida’s first behavioral health urgent care center and a proton therapy center in Tampa Bay. Under her leadership, the system is expanding its graduate medical education programs to more than 650 residency positions by 2029. She has championed technology innovations such as AI-assisted documentation and a virtual nurse program, aimed at supporting caregivers and improving efficiency. A former bedside nurse, she continues to prioritize frontline caregiver wellbeing, patient experience and community health partnerships. BayCare Health System has earned repeated recognition as a top workplace and one of the nation’s most caring companies under her leadership.

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.

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 near doubling in size of the academic health system. 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.

John Couris. President and CEO at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. Mr. Couris has scaled Tampa General Hospital from 17 to over 150 care locations statewide, with six hospitals and 1,500-plus beds, while lifting quality to Vizient top-decile performance. He advanced growth via acquisitions, including TGH North, and a management partnership for Belle Glade, Fla.-based Lakeside Medical Center. Mr. Couris champions AI-enabled care coordination through a command center with Palantir software, improving throughput, safety and affordability. He is spearheading the Tampa Medical & Research District with USF Health and expanding specialty access, including a new radiation oncology center with Boston-based Mass General Brigham in Palm Beach County, Fla. A national advocate for hospital-at-home, Mr. Couris helped shape the bipartisan “At HOME Services Act” and supported Florida’s “Live Healthy Act”.

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 at Cincinnati Children’s. Dr. Davis leads a $3.3 billion pediatric academic health system with more than 20,000 employees and 1.7 million annual patient encounters from all 50 states and dozens of countries, expanding access across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. A pediatric critical care physician and former COO, he delivered the $600 million critical care building and champions a long-range plan to elevate care, cure, community and culture as the organization approaches its 150th anniversary. He helped launch HealthVine, a coordinated network serving more than 127,000 children with value-based care and a social investment fund for transportation, food security and other nonmedical needs. Under his leadership, Cincinnati Children’s ranks on the U.S. News & World Report honor roll for 2024–25, placed No. 1 in three specialties and is among the top recipients of National Institutes of Health pediatric research funding. Dr. Davis advanced proton therapy innovation by backing a dedicated research gantry and first-in-human FLASH proton trials, and has expanded mental health leadership with a $99 million inpatient facility and an AI early-intervention tool. He chairs the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety network, credited with preventing more than 30,000 instances of serious harm and saving hundreds of millions in costs.

Timothy H. Dellit, MD. CEO of UW Medicine (Seattle). Dr. Dellit leads a 35,000-person academic health system spanning two medical centers, a regional primary care network, air medical transport, the UW School of Medicine, and a clinically integrated cancer program with Seattle-based Fred Hutch. He is responsible for health system operations, clinical quality and safety, education and research programs, as well as systemwide advancement, policy and external relations, all while stewarding UW Medicine’s role as Washington’s public safety-net provider. He launched “Mission Forward” to stabilize finances and strengthen operations post-pandemic, securing Federal Emergency Management Agency recovery funds, new legislative support for safety-net and workforce education, and enhanced federal funding for undercompensated care that reached $856 million in fiscal year 2024. He also oversaw initiatives that improved operating room and ambulatory throughput, emergency department flow and length-of-stay. A champion of innovation and responsible AI across research, education and care, he centers transparent communication and people-first culture that earned UW Medicine Magnet designation and a 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognition for computational protein design. Dr. Dellit also serves on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center board.

Michael Dowling. President and CEO of Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Mr. Dowling is president and CEO of Northwell Health, where he leads a clinical, academic and research enterprise. Outside of the traditional hospital setting, Mr. Dowling oversaw the system’s implementation of an automated care platform that allows clinicians to monitor patients in between visits by using AI-powered chatbots and remote patient monitoring technology to decrease the number of readmissions to the hospital. In 2023, he led plans to increase Northwell’s global presence via its center for global health. A staunch advocate on national issues including gun violence, immigration, reducing carbon emissions, and federal regulation, Mr. Dowling uses his influence to address public health issues and inequities in healthcare. Northwell launched its own gun violence awareness campaign and recently, Mr. Dowling led the charge to have more than 55 hospital and healthcare CEOs join a CEO taskforce to end gun violence, with plans to launch a prevention and safety campaign as well. Mr. Dowling will transition to CEO Emeritus in October 2025.

James Downing, MD. President and CEO at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.). Dr. Downing leads one of the world’s leading institutions in advancing scientific understanding and treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. He is leading a $12.9 billion expansion of St. Jude clinical care and research programs in Memphis and around the world. Additionally, St. Jude’s comprehensive cancer center received a two-year cancer center support grant merit extension from the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Downing was also instrumental in launching the pediatric cancer genome project, electing him a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Under his leadership, St. Jude has been recognized as a top pediatric cancer hospital and a leader in global pediatric health efforts. Dr. Downing was appointed to the Blue Ribbon Panel in 2016-17 to advise the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

Shereef Elnahal, MD. President of Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, Ore.). Dr. Elnahal began his tenure as president of Oregon Health & Science University in August 2025, bringing deep expertise in health care delivery within large, integrated health systems. He previously served as undersecretary for health at the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he led the nation’s largest health system of nearly 400,000 professionals serving 9 million veterans. Earlier in his career, Dr. Elnahal was president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark, N.J., the state’s only public hospital and principal academic medical center for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. There, he guided the institution through the Covid-19 pandemic, positioning it as a model for urban and regional response.

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 academic 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.

Cheryl Ficara. President of Hartford (Conn.) Hospital and Hartford Region and Senior Vice President of Hartford HealthCare. Ms. Ficara oversees Hartford Hospital, an 867-bed academic medical center and the flagship of Hartford HealthCare. She has advanced nursing practice systemwide with a unified strategic plan, professional councils, and new training pathways such as operating room and surgical technologist fellowships. Under her leadership, hand hygiene compliance improved from 20% to over 90%, and engagement programs boosted staff satisfaction and resilience. She has reduced readmissions and improved throughput by standardizing sepsis protocols and advancing daily executive rounding. Ms. Ficara also spearheaded the adoption of the Epic EHR across the Hartford region to improve efficiency and patient safety. Hartford Hospital has earned Leapfrog “A” grades and recognition from Healthgrades, U.S. News & World Report and the Joint Commission during her tenure.

Natalie Fox, DNP. Interim CEO of USA Health (Mobile, Ala.). Dr. Fox oversees the overall strategy, performance and operations at USA Health, the University of South Alabama’s academic health system, which includes more than 400 physicians, 300 advanced practice providers, and over 300 residents and fellows across faculty and community-based practices. She has been a dedicated leader at USA Health since 2011, serving in roles that advanced population health and reduced barriers to care. As assistant administrator and CNO for USA Health Physicians Group, she played a critical role in leading the system’s Covid-19 testing and vaccination response in partnership with the City of Mobile. For this work, she was recognized with the “Mobile Community Health Leadership Award” and the “Exceptional Citizenship Award” from the mayor in 2022. That same year, she also received Alabama’s “Top Nurses Lifetime Achievement Award” for her enduring contributions to the nursing profession.

Julie Freischlag, MD. CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice President of Advocate Health, and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs of Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Dr. Freischlag is CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, chief academic officer and executive vice president of Advocate Health, 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. 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.

Laurie H. Glimcher, MD. President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston). Dr. Glimcher leads this academic medical center, a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, with an equal commitment to patient care and cancer research. It is the only cancer center ranked in the top five nationally by U.S. News & World Report in both adult and pediatric cancer care and also ranked as New England’s top ranked cancer center for more than 20 years. Dr. Glimcher is also director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and a Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. As CEO, Dr. Glimcher has led Dana-Farber through significant growth, opening new outpatient clinics and now leading an effort to build a proposed $1.7 billion adult inpatient cancer hospital. A proponent of improving access to equitable care, Dr. Glimcher has overseen establishment of community partnerships to connect patients from underserved communities to cancer prevention, education, diagnosis and care. Dr. Glimcher is a member of both National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and a former president of the American Association of Immunologists.

Keith Gray, MD. President and CEO of University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville). Dr. Gray is president and CEO of University of Tennessee Medical Center. Prior, he was executive vice president and CMO at the University of Tennessee Medical Center–Knoxville. He has practiced surgical oncology at the medical center for 15 years, and has held various leadership positions throughout his tenure. He is passionate about health equity and the elimination of health disparities. Dr. Gray has delivered over 100 community lectures.

Thomas M. Gronow, EdD. President and Chief Executive Officer of University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). Mr. Gronow leads University of Colorado Hospital, the academic medical center at the core of of UCHealth, a nationally recognized health care system with 14 hospitals, $7.5 billion in operating revenue and more than 33,000 employees. He first joined UCHealth in 2014 as COO of the hospital and was promoted to president and CEO in 2022. Prior to UCHealth, he served as vice president of operations at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, beginning his career at UPMC as an administrative fellow in 2007. His leadership expertise focuses on complex adaptive systems, with an emphasis on how leadership, learning and organizational culture shape performance.

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.

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 clinic locations across southern and central California. In his role, he led Keck Medicine’s expansion of services through their affiliation with the 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.

Richard Hart, MD. President and CEO 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.

Jena Hausmann. President and CEO at Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora). Ms. Hausmann leads Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she oversees more than 11,000 employees across 15 locations. Under her leadership, the hospital cares for more than 300,000 children annually and was included on the U.S. News & World Report 2024-25 honor roll. She has also advanced research and innovation, spearheaded the launch of a precision medicine institute, and positioned the hospital for success with a five-year organizational strategic plan. Ms. Hausmann has also championed youth mental health, declaring a statewide emergency in 2021 that led to a 50% increase in care capacity within a year. She also serves as board chair of the Children’s Hospital Association and on several other prominent boards in the state.

Bradley Haws. CEO and Associate Vice President at University of Iowa Health Care (Iowa City). Mr. Haws directs the operational, strategic and financial performance of Iowa’s largest hospital system, while advancing the University of Iowa Health Care mission in education, research and patient care. Since November 2023, he has led a multi-campus growth strategy that opened a 470,000-square-foot orthopedics-focused campus, preserved regional access by acquiring a community hospital after bankruptcy, and integrated the Mission Cancer + Blood practice to expand oncology services closer to home across central Iowa. He has orchestrated complex integrations to keep local identity intact while standardizing operations, strengthening continuity of care and improving access statewide amid high transfer demand to the university campus. Mr. Haws’ prior experiences as a CFO for various health systems and as physicians group CEO informs a disciplined approach to performance, capital deployment and talent alignment. He also serves on accountable care, hospital association and community economic boards. Under his leadership, University of Iowa Health Care has been ranked the No. 1 “most humanizing” brand nationally by Monigle, is the top hospital in Iowa with eight nationally ranked specialties by U.S. News & World Report, and was named one of America’s best maternity hospitals 2025 from Newsweek and Statista.

Wendy Horton, PharmD. CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center (Charlottesville, Va.). Dr. Horton oversees clinical, operational, quality and financial performance for the University of Virginia’s academic medical center, partnering with physicians, faculty and nearly 9,000 team members to deliver patient-centered, cost-effective care. Early in her tenure she stabilized operations during the first pandemic wave, driving 50% fewer Covid-related deaths than expected and reducing central line–associated bloodstream infection and catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates by 89%, while also retraining more than 1,500 nurses and elevating accountability across the medical staff. She modernized systems and culture through enterprise redesign, digital transformation, throughput improvements, revenue cycle enhancements and supply chain strengthening, culminating in a successful Joint Commission triennial accreditation survey in 2021. Dr. Horton advanced workforce wellbeing with a $56 million compensation investment to bring all salaries to market-competitive levels, launched “Earn While You Learn” talent pathways and created a caregiver wellbeing specialist role to support frontline teams. She accelerated capital projects, playing a critical role in opening an 84-bed tower two months ahead of schedule, activating a free-standing breast cancer clinic, optimizing facilities for infectious disease surges, and improving mortality and quality outcomes with a new hospice program. Dr. Horton also serves on the board of governors for the American College of Healthcare Executives and as a board member for Vizient, among other leadership roles.

Tom Jackiewicz. President of the University of Chicago Health System and University of Chicago Medical Center. Mr. Jackiewicz is helping UChicago 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. Since joining UChicago, 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.

Ed Jimenez. President and CEO of University Hospital Newark (N.J.). Mr. Jimenez leads New Jersey’s only public academic medical center. His role involves overseeing hospital operations, improving patient care and managing a major campus renovation project. Mr. Jimenez’s leadership has significantly reduced nurse vacancy rates and advanced clinical programs, including the liver transplant program, which boasts a top survival rate in the Northeast. His commitment to modernization and community engagement has positioned University Hospital as a leading institution in healthcare excellence.

Alan Kaplan, MD. CEO at UW Health (Madison, Wis.). Dr. Kaplan leads UW Health, a multi-state academic health system with six hospitals, more than 24,000 employees and 800,000 annual patients. He guided the integration of UW Health with UnityPoint Health–Meriter in Madison, a move that expanded inpatient capacity and improved financial performance by millions of dollars. Under his leadership, the system has invested in innovation, launching the “Isthmus Project” for the commercialization of clinical discoveries and opening the Eastpark Medical Center, a 480,000-square-foot facility advancing cancer care, women’s health and clinical trials. Dr. Kaplan has emphasized equity and inclusion, recruiting the system’s first chief diversity officer and advancing organizational culture transformation through the “UW Health Way.” The health system has earned national recognition under his leadership, including U.S. News & World Report’s top Wisconsin hospital ranking for 13 consecutive years. Dr. Kaplan also serves on the boards of the Wisconsin Hospital Association and Wisconsin Healthcare Technology Council.

Alec C. Kimmelman, MD, PhD. CEO of NYU Langone Health and Dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine (New York City). Dr. Kimmelman became CEO and dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine in September 2025, taking the helm of one of the nation’s premier integrated academic health systems. He has been a leader at NYU Langone since 2016, most recently serving as director of the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center. Under his leadership, the institution has expanded its reach with seven inpatient locations, more than 320 outpatient sites, two tuition-free medical schools and a growing national footprint. In 2024, NYU Langone reported $14.2 billion in revenue, added a new hospital in Suffolk County and announced plans for a comprehensive outpatient campus in West Palm Beach, Fla. The system has also been ranked No. 1 among 115 comprehensive academic medical centers nationwide by Vizient for three consecutive years. Dr. Kimmelman is also an internationally recognized physician-scientist.

Anne Klibanski, MD. President and CEO for Mass General Brigham (Somerville, Mass.). Dr. Klibanski is the first woman to serve as president and CEO at Mass General Brigham, an academic health care system that includes two nationally ranked academic medical centers. Appointed to her role in 2019, Dr. Klibanski has focused heavily on transformational shifts in how Mass General Brigham operates. These efforts have enabled Mass General Brigham to move from being a corporate holding company model, with individually managed hospitals and healthcare centers, to a truly integrated healthcare system with patients at its center. Dr. Klibanski has established enterprise clinical services to provide seamless integrated care, developed new digital platforms, has overseen increased investment in leading-edge research and leveraged the system’s annual research funding to help support the creation of companies in various spaces from therapeutics to diagnostics and research.

Michael Kupferman, MD. CEO of Penn State Health (Hershey, Pa.). Dr. Kupferman became CEO of Penn State Health in June 2025, leading the $4.2 billion integrated academic health system. He oversees access to high-quality, expert-driven care while fostering a culture of safety, innovation and collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Kupferman is a fellowship-trained head and neck cancer surgeon who previously served as senior vice president of clinical and academic network development at Houston-based The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he advanced oncology programs across domestic and international partnerships. He later served as president of the Banner University medicine division and senior vice president of the physician enterprise at Phoenix-based Banner Health, overseeing academic medicine, hospital operations, service line strategy and network performance. At Penn State Health, Dr. Kupferman is focused on strengthening integration with Penn State College of Medicine and expanding access to care across counties. In addition to his executive responsibilities, he continues to care for patients with head and neck cancers and teach medical students, residents and fellows.

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 (Burlington). 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 T. Lefteris. President and CEO at UCI Health (Orange, Calif.). Mr. Lefteris leads UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, comprising 1,317 beds, multiple hospitals and a growing ambulatory network. He has overseen transformative projects, including the $1.3 billion UCI Health–Irvine medical campus, the first U.S. medical center powered by an all-electric plant. Under his leadership, the system expanded through the acquisition of four hospitals in Orange and Los Angeles counties, significantly increasing regional access to academic medicine. Mr. Lefteris has prioritized sustainability, making UCI Health a national model in climate leadership, while also advancing telehealth and home-based preventive care. UCI Medical Center now ranks among Vizient’s top 10 academic medical centers for quality and has earned five Magnet nursing designations. Mr. Lefteris also serves on the boards of the Hospital Association of Southern California, America’s Essential Hospitals and Appalachian State University’s College of Health Sciences.

Marlon F. Levy, MD. CEO of VCU Health System and Senior Vice President for VCU Health Sciences (Richmond, Va.). Dr. Levy became CEO of VCU Health System and senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences in November 2024. Under his leadership, the health system stabilized after the challenges of the pandemic and achieved strong financial recovery, including bond rating upgrades from Moody’s and S&P. He has overseen record inpatient and outpatient volumes by expanding access and driving health system growth. Dr. Levy has prioritized workforce wellness and campus safety through employee engagement and safety initiatives. He also guided the launch of a new brand designed to reflect the people, mission and outcomes that distinguish VCU Health from other systems.

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 academic healthcare system that includes more than 47,000 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. He plans to retire in October 2025.

David C. Linehan, MD. CEO of University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center. Dr. Linehan leads a $6 billion academic health enterprise and the region’s largest employer, overseeing eight hospitals and a comprehensive network spanning urgent, primary and specialty care, behavioral health, skilled nursing, home care and virtual services, and Strong Memorial Hospital. Also serving as senior vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, he guides medical education and research training across the medical center, the nursing school and the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. In his first 15 months as CEO, the medical center earned full eight-year Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation, secured the fifth consecutive Magnet designation for Strong Memorial Hospital, advanced a $650 million expansion of Strong Memorial, launched pediatric mental health urgent care, achieved NCI designation for Wilmot Cancer Institute, materially improved nursing recruitment and retention, and reduced temporary labor costs. A surgeon-scientist and nationally regarded pancreatic cancer immunotherapy researcher, Dr. Linehan has articulated a unifying vision for URMC to become a globally renowned academic medical center by 2035 by aligning people, programs and capital to deliver ever-better patient care.

Richard Lofgren, MD. President and CEO of OU Health (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Dr. Lofgren, inaugural president and CEO of OU Health beginning in 2022, leads Oklahoma’s flagship academic health system. He aims to ensure that no Oklahoman has to seek lifesaving specialty and subspecialty care outside of the state, including patients with complex, serious conditions. To this end, he has led the expansion of specialized services such as Nation Cancer Institute-designated cancer care. He helmed an organizational redesign that moved the health system from a holding company to an operating company, further expanding a culture of quality and safety. OU Health’s cultural transformation aligned all team members and physicians around a common purpose and set of values, with nearly 100% of team members participating in transformation and realignment. In the difficult post-pandemic environment, Dr. Lofgren’s focus on financial stabilization led to improved credit outlooks from Moody’s and S&P.

David Lubarsky, MD. President and CEO at Westchester Medical Center Health Network (Valhalla, N.Y.). Dr. Lubarsky oversees WMCHealth’s nine-hospital network, including 1,700 inpatient beds, 12,000 employees, the region’s only academic medical center and children’s hospital, various community hospitals, specialized institutes and centers, outpatient care, one of the largest mental health systems in the state, and more. He joined the system in 2025 and has prioritized expanding access, strengthening clinical leadership and integrating AI-driven care. Previously, he served as CEO of Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health, where he oversaw a $5 billion enterprise, grew revenue by 75% and tripled capital projects to $8 billion. He also launched a digital health equity program to better serve vulnerable populations. His early impact at WMCHealth includes reorganizing senior leadership and creating a chief clinical officer role to unify operations. Dr. Lubarsky was recognized as Press Ganey’s “CEO of the Year” in 2022 and as Sacramento Business Journal‘s “Most Admired CEO” for 2021.

Kevin B. Mahoney. CEO at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Philadelphia). Mr. Mahoney leads one of the nation’s preeminent academic medical centers, which unites the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Perelman School of Medicine, across seven hospitals, 13 multispecialty centers and hundreds of outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. He oversaw the creation of the Pavilion, a 1.5-million-square-foot, 17-story hospital with 47 operating rooms and 504 private rooms, which is the largest capital project in the University of Pennsylvania’s history, and unified system hospitals, clinics and home care on a single EHR platform. In the past year, Mr. Mahoney led the acquisition of Doylestown (Pa.) Health, advanced a pipeline of access-expanding projects, and implemented a four-site care model that brings services to patients in hospitals, multispecialty centers, homes and via telehealth. He is reimagining workplace safety through significant investments in weapons detection, staff duress badges and de-escalation training while advocating for the “Save Healthcare Workers Act”. A civic leader, he co-founded the Fund for Health to invest in early-stage companies addressing social determinants of health in underserved Philadelphia communities and helps link Penn Medicine discoveries to the region’s “Cellicon Valley” gene and cell therapy ecosystem. Mr. Mahoney also serves as a senior fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, sits on the Science Center board, and chairs Philadelphia’s Business Roundtable for Education and Medicine.

Patty Maysent. 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 billions in annual operating revenue and overseeing tens of thousands of team members. She is supervising the health system’s multifaceted, multibillion dollar growth and expansion plan.

Pete McCanna. CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas). Mr. McCanna leads Baylor Scott & White Health, which comprises 52 hospitals and more than 1,300 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple. Prior to becoming CEO, he was president of the system, a role he used to further clinical alignment, forward the digital health strategy and expand upon academic affiliations. Before joining Baylor Scott & White, Mr. McCanna was executive vice president and COO at Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine. He brings almost 35 years of experience in healthcare management and consulting.

Cliff A. Megerian, MD. CEO and Jane and Henry Meyer CEO Distinguished Chair at University Hospitals (Cleveland). Dr. Megerian leads a $6.4 billion, 21-hospital system with 32,000-plus employees, one of the nation’s largest ACOs and a top-funded academic enterprise anchored by UH Cleveland Medical Center. He has advanced research and discovery through a first-of-its-kind rare disease therapeutics accelerator with the University of Oxford and increased extramural funding to $214 million. Under his leadership, the system launched the “Healthy@Home” virtual clinic, cutting readmissions by 20% for patients with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes, and boosted Medicare annual wellness visits from 24% to 70%. Dr. Megerian has driven value by reducing Medicare costs by $40 million and earning $18 million in shared savings. He is a nationally recognized voice on patient safety and administrative reform, engaging with federal leaders and pledging a systemwide “Zero Harm” agenda. In addition to leading the system, he continues to see patients, teach, and publish extensively in otology and skull base surgery.

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 a health system with regional hospitals, facilities across 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.

David C. Miller, MD. CEO of Michigan Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Dr. Miller leads Michigan Medicine as CEO and executive vice president for medical affairs, advancing clinical care, research, education and community engagement. He previously served as executive vice dean for clinical affairs at the University of Michigan Medical School and president of U-M Health, overseeing strategy, operations and performance for a clinical enterprise with nearly 20,000 employees. Under his leadership, Michigan Medicine has consistently been ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in more specialties than any other hospital in the state by U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Miller has been instrumental in improving quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to care across Michigan through strategic partnerships. He also spearheaded Michigan Medicine’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, guiding the system through an unprecedented public health crisis.

Redonda Miller, MD. President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). 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.

Stephen Motew, MD. President and CEO of UF Health (Gainesville, Fla.). Dr. Motew became president and CEO of UF Health in April 2024. His role entails leading the integrated patient care system, supporting community engagement, and furthering innovation and technology. In addition, he aims to create an integrated model that blends operating and financial oversight, pursues systemwide goals, and elevates transparency via an updated clinical system corporate structure. Prior to taking on his current role, Dr. Motew was executive vice president and chief of clinical enterprise at Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System.

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 academic health system. 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.

Gregory A. Nielsen. CEO at East Jefferson General Hospital (Metairie, La.). Mr. Nielsen leads East Jefferson General Hospital’s transition into an academic center of excellence in partnership with Tulane University, making the hospital the clinical home for the Tulane School of Medicine while expanding specialty services and advanced academic medicine. The hospital is part of New Orleans-based LCMC Health, where he served as system COO during a period of system transformation. He also held prior roles in Brentwood, Tenn. as regional vice president at American Physician Partners and division president at RegionalCare Hospital Partners, now part of LifePoint Health. As CEO, he is accountable for day-to-day operations, strategy and quality outcomes, including building programs that fuse academic discovery with community-based care and ensuring reliable access to high-value services across the region. Mr. Nielsen has also served as CEO for multiple hospitals in nonprofit and investor-owned settings, strengthening performance through disciplined process improvement and physician alignment. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Pete November. CEO of Ochsner Health (New Orleans). Mr. November has been the CEO of Ochsner Health, the state’s largest nonprofit academic health system and its largest private employer, since 2022. Through this role, Mr. November has ushered in multiple important partnerships, enhancing healthcare access for tens of thousands of community members. Before taking on his current role, Mr. November served as executive vice president and CFO at Ochsner. Prior, he served in various senior leadership roles within the organization starting in 2012.

Christopher O’Connor. CEO at Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health. Mr. O’Connor oversees Yale New Haven Health, a $7 billion academic system with five hospitals, seven campuses, 31,000 employees and a close collaboration with Yale School of Medicine. He has strengthened alignment with Yale’s research enterprise, expanding access to clinical trials and building a true academic health system. Mr. O’Connor has led acquisitions of organizations such as PhysicianOne Urgent Care to expand access across the state, while improving the system’s continuum of care. He has prioritized employee engagement and wellbeing, implementing initiatives to support career development and reduce reliance on temporary staff. Under his tenure, Yale New Haven Health has been nationally ranked by Castle Connolly, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report, including 11 specialties at Yale New Haven Hospital. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has chaired the Connecticut Hospital Association.

Philip Ozuah, MD. President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine (Bronx, N.Y.). Dr. Ozuah serves as president and CEO of Montefiore, a leading academic health system and research institution. Under his leadership, Montefiore has expanded access to care for underserved communities, improved operational performance and secured a transformative $1 billion gift to ensure tuition-free education at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Ozuah oversees over 40,000 employees across 13 hospitals and has significantly advanced medical research and education, contributing to more than $200 million in annual National Institutes of Health research awards. His commitment to health equity and innovation has earned Montefiore recognition as one of the nation’s best hospitals from U.S. News & World Report.

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. 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.

Boris C. Pasche, MD, PhD. President and CEO at Karmanos Cancer Institute (Detroit). Dr. Pasche directs Michigan’s largest cancer provider and research network, setting strategy across clinical growth, scientific direction, community engagement and faculty recruitment in partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he chairs the oncology department. In less than two years, he has advanced a statewide expansion that includes a 50,000-square-foot, $48 million build-out, new medical oncology clinics, a multispecialty site in partnership with Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care, and a partnership with Michigan State University to open a new state-of-the-art cancer center in Lansing, Mich. He has recruited 10 physicians and 12 researchers, and is planning a $200 million academic and research tower with Wayne State University to accelerate discovery and education. A physician-scientist and co-inventor of the TheraBionic P1 device, an FDA-approved, noninvasive therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, Dr. Pasche led Karmanos to become the first site worldwide to offer the treatment in November 2024. He has prior leadership experience at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and founded the cancer genetics program at Northwestern University.

Tom Patrias. President and CEO at University Medical Center New Orleans. Mr. Patrias leads University Medical Center, bringing deep experience in academic medicine and health system operations. In his previous role as the medical center’s COO, he drove improvements in performance, expanded service lines, secured capital investments and advanced a culture of safety through the “UMC Safe” program. He has strengthened academic partnerships with LSU Health and Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans, supporting the medical center’s mission as a teaching and research hub. Before coming to the medical center, Mr. Patrias served as CEO of New Orleans-based Tulane Medical Center and Metairie, La.-based Lakeside Hospital. He also led Bayfront Health Spring Hill (Fla.) and held leadership positions at community health systems in Georgia and Florida.

Peter WT Pisters, MD. President at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). Dr. Pisters has led MD Anderson Cancer Center for more than seven years, steering a mission-driven strategy that has elevated the institution’s global leadership in cancer care, research, prevention and education. Under his leadership, annual institutional revenue surpassed seven billion dollars, research investment exceeded $1.3 billion, and MD Anderson contributed to 27 of the 55 oncology drugs approved by the U.S. FDA in fiscal year 2024. He sustained a 5-star Vizient performance ranking while launching major initiatives including the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery and Innovation and a systemwide patient navigation program, and expanded partnerships across a national network of hospitals and health systems. Dr. Pisters also announced a transformational $150 million gift from Kinder Foundation to create the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center with Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, uniting two leading institutions to advance cures in pediatric oncology. His emphasis on data, alignment and culture has driven exceptional engagement, reflected in a record 91% response rate and 90% engagement level in the 2025 employee survey across a workforce of roughly 27,000.

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.

Justin Precourt, RN, DNP. President at UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, Mass.). Dr. Precourt leads Central Massachusetts’ largest academic medical center, guiding strategy, operations and quality for an 800-plus-bed facility. After serving as interim president in 2023, he was named president in 2024 and swiftly expanded inpatient capacity by transforming a former rehabilitation center into a 78,000-square-foot acute care facility with 72 private rooms and state-of-the-art technology. He has tackled regional bed shortages by scaling alternate care locations, opening surge areas, optimizing step-down and discharge workflows, and growing a hospital-at-home program that now includes postpartum care and has treated more than 3,000 patients since 2021. Dr. Precourt redesigned emergency department triage and staffing to handle roughly 20% more monthly volume and reduce patients leaving without treatment. He also created a caregiver wellbeing specialist role to support frontline teams. Under his leadership, UMass Memorial Medical Center earned its first-ever CMS 4-star designation, supported by new safety dashboards, sepsis and medication safety initiatives, and suicide risk mitigation. He chairs the 2025 Central Massachusetts Heart and Stroke Ball and previously served as CNO and chief nurse executive within the UMass Memorial Health system.

Dennis W. Pullin. President and CEO at Virtua Health (Marlton, N.J.). Mr. Pullin leads southern New Jersey’s largest health system, which comprises five hospitals, two satellite emergency departments, 41 ambulatory surgery centers and more than 400 sites. Additionally, he is responsible for advancing an academic partnership with Rowan University through the Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences. Over the past year, he authored the Amazon best seller Suited for Leadership and launched bold community initiatives, including a four-year, $5 million anti-poverty collaboration with Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care and the nonprofit United Way, the expansion of the “Eat Well Mobile Grocery and the first Mobile Food Farmacy”, and a second pediatric mobile services unit to increase annual visits from 6,000 to about 10,000. He is steering an $850 million capital program with a six-story pavilion at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden and supporting a new Rowan University nursing school, while opening affordable senior housing integrated with a Virtua medical practice. A board member of Hillenbrand and DaVita, as well as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Mr. Pullin has been recognized nationally for innovation, equity and workforce excellence. Under his leadership, Virtua has sustained “Best Place to Work” honors from Forbes and level 10 “Most Wired” status from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.

Imran Qadeer, MD. President and CEO at Allegheny General Hospital (Pittsburgh). Dr. Qadeer leads Allegheny General Hospital, the network’s academic flagship, largest teaching hospital and primary research facility. He joined AHN in 2009 and has served as lead chief medical officer, medical director of AGH observation services, lead physician advisor and chief quality officer for the AHN Medicine Institute. Under his leadership, the hospital has seen significant improvement in its overall quality and safety ratings in recent years.

Abhinav Rastogi. Executive Vice President of Temple Health and President and CEO of Temple University Hospital (Philadelphia). Mr. Rastogi leads a multi-campus academic medical center that encompasses 1,038 licensed beds and more than 40,000 annual inpatient admissions. He has driven system growth and integration by preserving community access through the acquisition of Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia, launching new services, and opening a modern infusion center that brings Temple Health and Fox Chase Cancer Center care closer to patients. Mr. Rastogi guided the planning and opening of the Temple Women & Families Hospital, with labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care and intensive care services opening this summer to address maternal health disparities in North Philadelphia. He expanded the Crisis Response Center at the Episcopal Campus to triple its capacity near one of the nation’s largest opioid epicenters and elevated the Temple Lung Center to the top lung transplant program by volume, with outcomes above national benchmarks. His focus on value, safety and equity produced significant supply and contracting savings, while advancing community programs such as mobile health screenings, in-store wellness services and youth career pipelines with the Philadelphia School District. Mr. Rastogi also serves on the Fox School of Business board of visitors and the American Heart Association board of directors, and has been recognized by regional and statewide leadership publications for his impact.

Austin Reeder. President at Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee, Wis.). Mr. Reeder became president of Froedtert Hospital in February 2025, leading eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center with 766 beds and a reputation as a premier referral resource for advanced care. He previously served as system vice president and COO for New Orleans-based Ochsner Medical Center, the Ochsner system’s flagship academic medical center. At Ochsner Health, which he joined in 2017, Mr. Reeder advanced quickly through leadership roles, including CEO of Ochsner Medical Center–St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, La. and vice president of hospital operations and patient throughput at Ochsner Medical Center–New Orleans. Earlier in his career, he held successive leadership positions at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., ultimately serving as vice president of service lines and operations.

Robert G. Riney. President and CEO of Henry Ford Health (Detroit). Mr. Riney has served Henry Ford Health, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, for over 45 years. He joined the system in 1978 and has since worked in nearly every business unit across the organization. He became CEO in 2022 after serving as president of healthcare operations and COO from 2017-22, COO from 2003-17, senior vice president and chief administrative officer from 2002-03 and senior vice president and CHRO from 2000-02. He currently holds various board and community roles in Detroit as well.

Mark Rosenblatt, MD, PhD. CEO of the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics (Chicago). Dr. Rosenblatt permanently assumed the CEO role at University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics in July 2024, following a period serving as interim CEO that began in September 2023. In addition to his leadership role, he is the G. Stephen Irwin Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago, a professor and physician surgeon in the UIC ophthalmology and visual sciences department, a professor of pharmacology in the College of Medicine, and associate vice chancellor for physician affairs.

Marty Saergeant. CEO at Keck Medical Center of USC (Los Angeles). Mr. Saergeant oversees Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, leading more than 3,500 caregivers and 230 leaders in a high-acuity academic environment. He prioritizes frontline engagement and operational excellence, following prior roles at Keck Medicine, Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope and Cleveland Clinic. Under his leadership, the medical center earned a 5-star rating from CMS in 2024, repeated Leapfrog “A” hospital safety grades, and national recognition from U.S. News & World Report and Vizient. Mr. Saergeant launched a mid-management leadership program that helped reduce nurse turnover to 7.1% and leader turnover to 8.7%. He also guided Magnet redesignation, underscoring sustained excellence in nursing and patient outcomes. A former U.S. Air Force F-15 combat pilot and instructor, he brings mission-driven discipline to culture, quality and growth.

Cory Shaw. President and CEO of UC Health (Cincinnati). As president and CEO of UC Health, Mr. Shaw leads the only adult academic health system in Greater Cincinnati, encompassing inpatient campuses and outpatient locations. Since taking on the role in January 2023, Mr. Shaw has spearheaded significant cultural and financial transformations, including community health initiatives and partnerships with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. His leadership has facilitated the UC Health Cancer Center’s inclusion in the National Cancer Institute’s Experimental Clinical Trials Network and the establishment of new facilities, such as the Freeman Center for Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Shaw’s prior experience at Nebraska Medicine, combined with his strategic vision, continues to drive UC Health’s success and regional healthcare advancements.

Peter L. Slavin, MD. President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles). Dr. Slavin serves as president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, bringing decades of leadership in academic medicine and a deep commitment to advancing patient care and community health. He previously spent 18 years as president of Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, the nation’s largest hospital-based research enterprise, where he oversaw growth in clinical care, research funding and workforce development. Under his leadership, Mass General earned the American Hospital Association’s inaugural “Equity of Care Award” in 2014 for its pioneering work in advancing health equity. Dr. Slavin has also been a prominent national voice for academic medicine, serving as chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges board. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, reflecting his influence on policy, education and health innovation.

Johnese Spisso. President of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System and Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences (Los Angeles). Ms. Spisso leads a nationally ranked academic health system that includes multiple hospitals, more than 280 clinics and expansive regional outreach across Southern California. She has broadened access by opening over 100 clinics and launching the UCLA Health Homeless Healthcare Collaborative, which has completed tens of thousands of encounters and reduced repeat emergency department visits among high-risk patients. Under her direction, UCLA Health is expanding neuropsychiatric capacity by 60% through a new Mid-Wilshire campus and partnering to improve Medi-Cal access for hospitalized psychiatric patients. Ms. Spisso emphasizes equity, quality and experience, earning top national accolades while sustaining strong academic partnerships and clinical growth. She advances workforce and community health through mobile care, mental health expansion and strategic capital investments. A longtime academic health leader and former nurse, she delivers high-impact, patient-centered care at scale.

Robert Stone. CEO and Helen and Morgan Chu CEO Distinguished Chair at City of Hope (Duarte, Calif.). Mr. Stone leads City of Hope’s national cancer system, which spans its Los Angeles academic campus, a comprehensive Southern California network, a new Orange County cancer center, and treatment centers in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix regions, alongside affiliated organizations such as the Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHope. Since becoming CEO in 2014, he has guided City of Hope’s evolution from a regional leader to a multi-state academic cancer enterprise that now serves more than 144,000 patients annually, integrates research and clinical care, and accelerates translational discoveries into community access. His policy and equity agenda includes launching the “Cancer Care Is Different” coalition, championing the “Cancer Patients’ Bill of Rights” resolution and advancing the “California Cancer Care Equity Act”, with recent expansion of this framework to additional states and federal efforts. Under his leadership, City of Hope earned the National Cancer Institute’s highest comprehensive cancer center rating, sustained Magnet recognition across all hospitals and was ranked among the nation’s top five hospitals for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-25. Mr. Stone also oversaw the acquisition and integration of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, and expanded one of the nation’s largest bone marrow and stem cell transplant programs while scaling cellular therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment.

Debra F. Sukin, PhD. President and CEO of Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston). Dr. Sukin leads one of the nation’s largest pediatric and women’s health systems, setting and executing a strategy centered on clinical excellence, innovation and equitable access across four hospital campuses and a statewide network of specialty and primary care sites. She oversees day-to-day operations, resource allocation, workforce development, and compliance and quality standards. Her early accomplishments as CEO include advancing a landmark collaboration with Houston-based The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to create a world-leading pediatric cancer center, expanding access, accelerating clinical trials and bringing novel therapies to children starting in 2026. Under her leadership, Texas Children’s continues to strengthen its global reputation, integrating translational research into care, scaling access and prioritizing caregiver engagement. Texas Children’s has been ranked No. 1 in Texas and top 10 nationally in all pediatric specialties according to U.S. News & World Report. A Houston native with deep ties to the institution’s legacy, Dr. Sukin is an active industry voice through the American Hospital Association maternal and child health committee, the Texas Hospital Association board and HOSPAC board, and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s medical advisory board.

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 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.

Mason Van Houweling. CEO of University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas). Mr. Van Houweling leads the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, steering a 5,000-member workforce and statewide centers of excellence that include the state’s only level 1 trauma center, only verified burn center, and only center for transplantation. Appointed CEO in 2014 amid severe financial headwinds, he executed a rapid turnaround that stabilized operations and saved local taxpayers nearly $1 billion. He then reinvested in high-impact growth by tripling kidney transplants and adding pancreas transplantation, building the state’s leading robotic surgery program, completing the largest campus renovation in the hospital’s 94-year history, expanding the adult emergency department and trauma center, opening seven ambulatory clinics and a telemedicine platform, establishing the Orthopedic & Spine Institute and elevating cardiovascular services. As anchor partner to University of Nevada, Las Vegas Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, the medical center trains about 340 residents and fellows across 20 programs. Mr. Van Houweling also serves on the Nevada Hospital Association board and previously served on the governor’s healthcare task force.

Shawn P. Vincent. President and CEO at Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Mr. Vincent leads Trinity Health’s Illinois and Indiana region, which includes five hospitals, nearly 11,800 colleagues and a $2.2 billion budget. He unified the two state markets into one region with a shared leadership team, improving safety, quality and financial performance. He guided a $55 million financial turnaround in Indiana within 12 months and restored clinical hiring ratios to pre-pandemic levels. His leadership has also secured Magnet nursing designations at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood and Loyola MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill., making the latter one of only six hospitals in the U.S. to achieve Magnet with distinction. Known for his servant-leadership style, he is recognized for integrity, transparency and strong advocacy in the communities he serves. Loyola Medicine hospitals have been nationally ranked by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the American Heart Association under his leadership.

Paul S. Viviano. CEO of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Since 2015, Mr. Viviano has led Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a pediatric academic medical center and the region’s pediatric safety-net, overseeing world-class care for more than 747,000 annual patient visits, nearly 17,000 surgeries and over 18,500 admissions, while supporting one of the nation’s largest pediatric training programs and robust research programs, with 597 active clinical trials and funding of $167.9 million in fiscal year 2024. Under his tenure, CHLA has expanded specialized care by approximately 30%, now providing more than half of the region’s complex pediatric care, launched rapidly growing Neurological and Behavioral Health Institutes, and built KidsX into a 25-member international pediatric innovator consortium that has helped launch 80 technologies. The hospital’s community benefit reached $489 million last year. A nationally recognized advocate for children’s health, Mr. Viviano serves on boards and policy bodies across the state and the nation, advancing access, equity and high-reliability pediatric care. Under his leadership, CHLA consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally and No. 1 on the West Coast by U.S. News & World Report for pediatrics, maintains Magnet designation, and has been honored as a Forbes “Best-in-State Employer”.

John Warner, MD. CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Executive Vice President at Ohio State (Columbus). Dr. Warner oversees a comprehensive academic health system, including seven hospitals and over 20 research institutes. A renowned interventional cardiologist, Dr. Warner has championed initiatives to enhance patient care and access, including the development of a $1.9 billion inpatient hospital tower. His leadership has propelled the Wexner Medical Center to be ranked among the top 10 most trusted healthcare brands in the nation. Dr. Warner’s commitment to patient-centered care and innovative research has driven significant advancements, such as a notable increase in research funding and the expansion of clinical trials and studies.

William Wertheim, MD. Executive Vice President at Stony Brook (N.Y.) Medicine. Dr. Wertheim leads Stony Brook Medicine’s integrated academic health system, which comprises four hospitals, five health sciences schools including the Renaissance School of Medicine, more than 1,400 physicians across nearly 150 specialties, and over 200 community ambulatory locations. In his first year, he helped catalyze a 27% increase in National Institutes of Health awards to more than $61 million, fueling advances in areas such as AI–enabled cancer diagnostics, tick-borne disease mitigation and neurodegenerative disorders. He continues to practice as a primary care physician, grounding system decisions in real-world clinical experience and patient needs. Dr. Wertheim’s crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic, including accelerating medical student graduation to bolster the workforce, earned wide praise, and has earned honors such as the “Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award” from The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. He also advances statewide and national priorities through service on boards and committees spanning the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, the Healthcare Association of New York State, America’s Essential Hospitals and Vizient. Under his guidance, Stony Brook Medicine has earned broad recognition for equity, sustainability, cardiovascular and stroke care, and consistent top rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Healthgrades.

Albert Wright Jr., PharmD. President and CEO of West Virginia University Health System (Morgantown). As president and CEO, Dr. Wright has transformed West Virginia University Health System, moving it from a holding company of five hospitals to a fully integrated network of hospitals and clinics across a four-state region. He also signiﬁcantly expanded the system’s specialty and sub-specialty care in areas such as cancer, heart and vascular, neuroscience and pediatrics. Under his leadership, the system also became West Virginia’s first and only multi-organ transplant center, and in late 2022, the system opened a 150-bed children’s hospital. Under his leadership, the system is currently West Virginia’s largest network of hospitals, clinics and specialty institutes. An academic medical center in Morgantown anchors the network. In 2023, the system launched Peak Health, its health insurance company, as the system transitioned to an integrated delivery and finance system.

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