Top 10: Leaders in Healthcare in the US

Across American healthcare, these ten leaders drive innovation, improve patient care and shape the landscape of medicine. From academic medical centres to expansive health systems, these ten professionals are making significant impacts in their respective roles. Their expertise spans clinical excellence, research, technological integration and healthcare policy. But above all, they work to support their staff, so that they can serve their patients.

10. Eric Topol

Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute

Headquarters: La Jolla, California

Eric Topol leads the Scripps Research Translational Institute, which focuses its attention on genomics and digital medicine to advance personalised healthcare globally. Under Eric’s guidance, Scripps has become a major independent research organisation. Eric has spearheaded a partnership with NVIDIA to leverage AI and deep learning in analysing genomic and medical sensor data. This collaboration aims to accelerate disease prevention, health promotion and biomedical research efficiency in a post-pandemic world. Topol's work is pivotal in applying cutting-edge technologies to improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

9. Dennis Pullin

President and CEO of Virtua Health

Headquarters: Marlton, New Jersey

Revenue: US$2.1bn

Dennis W. Pullin is President and CEO of New Jersey-based academic health system, Virtua Health. He is a visionary leader and health equity advocate, who has transformed the 142-year-old organisation through strategic acquisitions and academic partnerships. 

Dennis has been recognised as one of healthcare's top innovators and influential figures by Modern Healthcare and he has also been honoured for his contributions to diversity in healthcare. His accolades include the Most Admired CEO award from Philadelphia Business Journal and induction into the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame.

8. Johnese Spisso

President of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California

Revenue: US$5.5bn

Johnese Spisso is President of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System and Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences. She has over 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Day to day, Johnese oversees UCLA's hospitals, clinics and regional outreach. 

Previously, Spisso spent 22 years at UW Medicine, where she rose to Chief Health System Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs. While there, she expanded regional hospital collaborations, integrated community hospitals and developed a statewide trauma system. Spisso's expertise spans academic medical centres, community hospitals and regional healthcare networks.

7. Amy Perry

CEO of Banner Health

Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona

Revenue: US$12.2bn

One of the nation's largest integrated, nonprofit healthcare organisations, Banner Health was founded in 1999 out of a merger between Samaritan Health System and Lutheran Health System.

It runs nearly 300 clinics and employs 50,000 people in seven western states. In the Arizona Region, Banner Health is the state’s largest private employer.

CEO Amy Perry has just taken on the role at Banner Health.

"I am honoured and deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead this remarkable health system and outstanding team who sincerely care about advancing health for the communities we serve," Perry said. "With Banner's One Team culture, we are transforming health care access and affordability.”

6. Richard Pollack

President and CEO of the American Hospital Association

Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

With a career spanning over 40 years in healthcare advocacy, Rick Pollack, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association, leads the nation's biggest hospital membership organisation.

The American Hospital Association has almost 5,000 members, where Richard is known for his effective advocacy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he built coalitions to support public health efforts. 

In his work, Richard focuses on addressing workforce challenges, advancing patient safety and promoting health equity. He's shaped the group into one of the most respected organisations in the field, driving improvements in healthcare access, quality and affordability.

5. Redonda Miller

President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland

Revenue: US$9.3bn

Dr. Redonda Miller has been the President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital since 2016, where she leads a 1,100-bed academic medical centre with over 11,000 employees. 

Under her firm leadership, the hospital has maintained its U.S. News & World Report top ranking, earned its fourth Magnet designation for nursing excellence, and received Planetree International's gold certification for person-centred care. Redonda is a Johns Hopkins alumna and has been a faculty member since 1997, where she focuses on exceptional clinical care, quality improvement and enhancing health equity.

4. Tomislav Mihaljevic

President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic

Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio

Revenue: US$12.4bn

Not-for-profit Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 and is best known for its innovative use of healthcare technology.

Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Cleveland Clinic. He has guided the nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre through a period of significant growth and innovation.

Tomislav's vision for Cleveland Clinic is to make it the premier destination for patient care worldwide and the most desirable workplace in healthcare. The hospital has expanded its global footprint, now encompassing 23 hospitals and 276 outpatient locations, which has led to 15.1 million patient encounters each year.

3. Nancy Howell Agee

President and CEO of Carilion Clinic

Headquarters: Roanoke, Virginia

Revenue: US$2.4bn

Nancy Howell Agee is Chief Executive Officer of The Carilion Clinic, a US$2bn not-for-profit integrated health system, which serves over 1m people in Virginia and West Virginia, with more than 1,000 employed physicians. Carilion Clinic includes seven hospitals ranging from the third largest in Virginia to mid-sized community and small rural or critical access hospitals. The Clinic also operates a range of business lines, such as home health, imaging services, pharmacies and freestanding surgical clinics. 

Nancy shared her plan to retire at the end of Fiscal Year 2024, leaving a legacy of ‘phenomenal care’ given at The Carilion Clinic.

2. Rob Allen

President and CEO of Intermountain Health

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah

Revenue: US$14.1bn

Intermountain Health is a nonprofit health system, with a presence in seven states. The nonprofit system runs 33 hospitals and 385 clinics, has 60,000 employees and medical groups with 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers - all with one goal: assisting people to live the healthiest life they can.

Rob Allen was raised on a farm in Star Valley, Wyoming, where his mother served as a nurse. Influenced by this, he has worked in executive leadership at Intermountain Health  the company for 25 years. He took on the role as President and CEO in November 2022, after serving as Chief Operating Officer for five years. 

He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on many foundation, chamber and service boards. He also has a strong interest in mentoring healthcare executives.

Rob earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Utah State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in operations management from Brigham Young University.

1. Gianrico Farrugia

President and CEO of Mayo Clinic

Headquarters: Rochester, Minnesota

Revenue: US$15.7bn

The Mayo Clinic is the world’s No. 1 ranked hospital, known for its medical research and exemplary patient care.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Gianrico Farrugia, the Mayo Clinic’s 80,000-person global workforce cares for 1.3m people every year.

Gianrico has been a Mayo Clinic physician for close to four decades. He earned his medical degree from the University of Malta Medical School and went onto become the CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida and he also led the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and he co-founded the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation. Gianrico is also a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees & Governors.

In addition to this, he is the co-author of “Think Big, Start Small, Move Fast: A Blueprint for Transformation from the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation,” which examines the need for change in the delivery of healthcare. 

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