18 Health System Executives Making a Difference in 2022
Every one of your potential buyers has a different background, set of skills, point of view, and passion. Understanding these four aspects—and others—will help you see your buyer as the hero of their every interaction with you.
Getting to know your potential buyers is not merely an exercise in persuasion. It’s a journey of empathy.
The process of conducting research, asking open-ended questions, and listening to comprehend the answers, will lead you to an opportunity to serve your buyers instead of merely selling to them. Genuine help offered from understanding builds relationships, not just signed contracts.
As an agency, we can’t offer “genuine help” to our clients unless we understand their customers. That’s why we pursue a deeper understanding of the healthcare landscape through our research.
In a recent review of 54 health systems of varying sizes, these eighteen individuals stood out. Each has addressed the problems their systems face with innovation, drive, and deep desire to see patients receive the greatest care possible. Some are brand new to their role, some have had roles created for them, and others have held their titles for many years. Nevertheless, these executives have one thing in common: they are pressing their organizations forward.
This list is presented in alphabetical order in an effort to show no bias.
Who would you add to the list? Why? We’d love to hear your suggestions.
Vish Anantramen
Chief Technology Officer
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
63,000 employees | $14 Billion
An in-demand speaker and thought leader, Anantraman launched his career as a practicing physician then earned a master’s in medical informatics from MIT. As CTO at The Mayo Clinic, he leads the hospital’s technology strategy to drive AI adoption, digital transformation, cloud computing, and more. While at Microsoft, he created NORA, a chatbot extension of Microsoft Teams, to reduce the time it takes to access patient information.
Jessica Beegle
Chief Innovation Officer
LifePoint Health, Brentwood, Tenn.
3,500 employees | $8.3 Billion
Beegle is part of the 2022 Frist Cressey Ventures Collective, a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council for Brain Research, Meta-Council on the Future of Health, Future of the Internet Working Group, Global Shapers, and a Davos constituent. Prior to LifePoint, she was instrumental in the launch of hundreds of medical offices under Walgreen Health.
Abel Biri
President and CEO
AdventHealth, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
19,000 employees | $12 Billion
Since Biri became CEO in 2017, he has overseen $158-million in expansion projects throughout all of AdventHealth‘s Central Florida operation. Biri was promoted from within having previously served as vice president and chief operating officer. He oversaw the installation of two new catheterization labs in the Heart Center, managed new technology upgrades for the diagnostic imaging department and Cancer Institute, and was instrumental in developing a new land-use plan that will be foundational to the future growth and expansion of the campus.
Damond Boatwright
President and CEO
Hospital Sisters Health System, Springfield, Ill.
8,200 employees | $2.3 Billion
Boatwright took the helm at HSHS in June of 2021 after a successful stint as CEO at SSM Health in Wisconsin where he successfully integrated one of the largest independent multispecialty groups in Wisconsin; maintaining top decile patient satisfaction and quality scores. He is both the first man and the first African American to hold the top administrator post.
Odette Bolano
President and CEO
St. Alphonsus Health System, Boise, Idaho
5,000 employees | $64.4 Million
After earning her BSN at the beginning of her career, Bolano moved into administration and has grown into one of the most effective leaders in America. She serves on many boards, is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association. In the last few weeks, she led a St. Alphonsus team of 750 colleagues in the transition to Epic converting over 140,000 appointments.
Bobbie Byrne
Chief Information Officer
Advocate Aurora Health System, Chicago, Ill.
9,500 employees | $1.2 Billion
Byrne worked as a pediatrician early in her career before giving in to her fascination with data. Byrne is responsible for information technology, security, infrastructure, clinical informatics, data warehousing, and business intelligence at Advocate Aurora. Previously, she served as the Chief Medical Officer of Edward Elmhurst Health where she was responsible for quality and safety throughout the system.
Suja Chandrasekaran
Chief Digital and Information Officer
CommonSpirit Health, Chicago, Ill.
25,000 employees | $29.6 Billion
Chandrasekaran led disruption in digital marketing, data, and AI over the past decades. Prior to her arrival at CommonSpirit, she has been a business owner with a proven track record of enterprise digital transformation. She has deep past experience in commercial products like Nestle and Timberland. She founded T200 and Women CXOs in Tech, to help women grow in the tech field. She was recently inducted into the CIO hall of fame.
Eduardo Conrado
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
Ascension, St. Louis, Mo.
66,000 employees | $25.3 Billion
Conrado leads two teams for Ascension—strategy and innovation. He spends his days staying ahead of the outmoded consumer experience in healthcare. He has adopted design thinking to transform their business and to create successful programs their customers love.
Paul DePriest
Chief Operating Officer
Baptist Memorial Health, Memphis, Tenn.
4,900 employees | $20 Million
DePriest attended medical school and then practiced in obstetrics and gynecology before becoming a Chief Medical Officer. he transitioned to COO at Baptist in 2012. His unique perspective helps him anchor quality and operational improvement and design innovative care delivery models.
Bland Eng
Chief Operating Officer
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
770 employees | $2.4 Million
In Fall of 2021, HCA rebranded 11 of its 400 Florida hospitals, including the main hospital and five freestanding ERs under Eng‘s leadership. Brandon‘s network of ERs has transformed the standard of care in the area and helped them remain strong in the face of changing Florida legislation.
Neil Evans
Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer; Chief Officer, Connected Care
Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
10,000 Employees | $269 Billion
Evans has been at the forefront of the transition to telehealth for veterans. He still practices as a primary care physician. He leads transformation for the VA with his experience on the front lines of clinical care and as a health care executive, information technology executive, and clinical informatics leader. In October 2020, Evans was selected as a winner of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Management Excellence.
Yoany Finetti
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Creve Coeur, Mo
200 Employees | $4 Billion
Finetti has the unique perspective of serving in three roles at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital: the vice president of patient care services, chief nursing officer, and chief operating officer. She is the strategic leader for all aspects of clinical care. She’s been instrumental in the Inpatient Tower project which includes private rooms, updated imaging, and the latest surgical prep and recovery technology.
Marty Paslick
Chief Information Officer
HCA Healthcare, Nashville, Tenn.
69,000 employees | $58 Billion
Recognized as a top CIO in 2020, Paslick spearheads HCA‘s technology and data analytics initiatives. He invested in his hometown by leading the Nashville Technology Council and has been inducted to the NTC hall of fame. He leads 5,800 employees across 189 hospitals and 15 division support centers.
Terika Richardson
Chief Operating Officer
Ardent Health, Nashville, Tenn.
69,000 employees | $58 Billion
A Top 100 Women Leaders in Medicine for 2021, Richardson is settling into her new role after being president or CEO at a number of hospitals. She is tasked with overseeing the operations of Ardent’s 30 hospitals and more than 200 sites of care across six states plus developing the service lines of cardiology and early breast cancer detection.
Marcus Shipley
Chief Innovation and Information Officer
Trinity Health, Livonia, Mich.
123,000 employees | $18.8 Billion
Shipley recently oversaw the digital transformation at Trinity including the deployment of Xealth. He leads Trinity Health’s innovation program and is responsible for finding, originating and implementing new ideas while managing the process of innovation and change management throughout the system.
Glenn Waters
Chief Operating Officer
BayCare Health System, Clearwater, Fla.
27,800 employees | $4.2 Billion
Under Waters‘ leadership, BayCare has launched major transformations of its hospital campuses and ambulatory services to meet the growing needs of the community, expanded community outreach through education, developed the first system-wide oncology strategy, and provided executive leadership for BayCare Behavioral Health, the area’s largest mental health and substance abuse service.
Deanna Wise
Chief Information Officer
Banner Health, Phoenix, Az.
26,000 employees | $10.4 Billion
Wise, who also serves as a board member of ArizonaCIO, joined Banner Health in 2019 after her tenure as CIO at Dignity Health where she received many honors and titles. She was recognized in 2015 by Computer World as a Premier 100 IT Leader. She was a part of the Achieving eHealth Equity Summit at the White House.
Eugene Woods
President and CEO
Atrium Health, Charlotte, N.C.
65,000 employees | $10.7 Billion
Woods is overseeing the disbursement of a $30-million gift and subsequent construction on a rehabilitation center. Woods came to Atrium in 2016 and worked first to unite the 65,000 team members. He has served as chairman of the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association. A frequent name on many “best of” lists, he is now working to reshape the landscape of medical education.
