February 3, 2022 – The healthcare industry is in need of strong leadership right now as we move closer to the two-year mark of the onset of COVID-19. Even though the pandemic introduced a number of challenges to the industry, healthcare is no stranger to labor shortages and supply shortages. Becker’s Hospital Review compiled a list of 113 great leaders in healthcare across the country. The first five are listed below:
Greg Adams. Chair and CEO of Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.). Mr. Adams leads a network of 39 hospitals, 730 medical offices and more than 216,000 employees. His work is focused on growing the organization’s membership, improving affordability and expanding healthcare access. He holds leadership positions at several organizations, including being a member of the board of directors for America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Erol Akdamar. President of Medical City Healthcare, North Texas division of HCA Healthcare (Dallas). Mr. Akdamar has been president of Medical City Healthcare since 2013, overseeing 16 hospitals and 11 ASCs in addition to other facilities. He is responsible for creating the strategic direction for the system and increasing market share. Mr. Akdamar also leads the health system’s strategic command center, the focal point for decision-making during the pandemic.
Nancy Howell Agee. President and CEO of Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). Ms. Agee’s role serves more than 1 million people in West Virginia and Virginia. She also operates home health, imaging services, pharmacies and freestanding surgical clinics. Ms. Agee is a strong leader in the hospital space and has served as chair of the American Hospital Association.
Barry Arbuckle, PhD. President and CEO of MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Dr. Arbuckle oversees MemorialCare’s network of more than 200 care locations. Under his leadership, MemorialCare entered a contract to provide healthcare services to Boeing’s Southern California employees. He also has chaired the Integrated Healthcare Association and serves on its board.
Carl Armato. President and CEO of Novant Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Mr. Armato served in multiple leadership roles at Novant Health before becoming its president and CEO, joining the healthcare system in 1998 as the vice president of finance and operations for the physician divisions in both Charlotte and Winston-Salem. Before joining Novant Health, he served as the vice president of operations for First Care Physicians and director of finance for the General Health System in Baton Rouge, La. He serves on the board of directors for healthcare performance company Vizient and is a member of its finance committee.