The Top 25 Executives in Healthcare:
Celebrating the importance of diversity in leadership
Throughout the years, we've conducted in-depth interviews with honorees to bring you insights into their success in career and life. Please scroll down and click to read the articles.
Ronnie Ursin
First-time CEO Ronnie Ursin shares lessons learned through his experience with Tower Health
Mario Garner
![Maro-Garner-250px](https://www.furstgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Maro-Garner-250px.png?width=150&name=Maro-Garner-250px.png)
Mario Garner drives success through mirroring the community
Gene Woods
Pamela Sutton-Wallace
Real-world advice: ‘Operational knowledge is essential to casting vision,’ says Pamela Sutton-Wallace
Janet Liang
![liang-25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/liang-25.jpg?width=150&name=liang-25.jpg)
Priming the pipeline for success: Janet Liang outlines the key to creating a strong bench of talent for organizational stability
Saurabh Tripathi
Leading the change with conviction: At Fresenius, Saurabh Tripathi looks for leaders who are adaptable
Beverly Malone
Beverly Malone sees healthcare's volatility as a prime opportunity to let her leadership team innovate
Sachin Jain
Transitioning to CEO? Self-awareness is vital, says CareMore CEO Sachin Jain
Jaewon Ryu
Leadership development and experiences construct a strong foundation for Jaewon Ryu
Leana Wen
Decisive leadership: Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen sees the ER as a valuable training ground for physician leaders
Tracy Carter
MetroHealth chief lobbyist Tracy Carter outlines 3 key traits for mission-focused executives
SreyRam Kuy
SreyRam Kuy's field guide to developing physician leaders and diverse teams
![Ruth Brinkley](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/brinkley25-2017.jpg)
Ruth Brinkley
Ruth Brinkley: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Healthcare veteran Ruth Brinkley: ‘I’m not retiring’
![Susan DeVore](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/DeVore25-2017.jpg)
Susan DeVore
Susan DeVore: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Personal experiences drive Susan DeVore’s efforts to transform healthcare from the inside out
![Sally Hurt-Deitch](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/deitch25.jpg)
Sally Hurt-Deitch
Sally Hurt-Deitch: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Hard work a key to Sally Hurt-Deitch’s ascent
![Karen Lynch](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/lynch25.jpg)
Karen Lynch
Karen Lynch: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Diversity fuels Karen Lynch’s leadership at Aetna
![Sue Schick](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/schick25.jpg)
Sue Schick
Sue Schick: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Sue Schick’s ‘pay it forward’ philosophy has deep, powerful roots
![Tejal Gandhi](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/gandhi25-2017.jpg)
Tejal Gandhi
Tejal Gandhi: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Tejal Gandhi galvanized as merger of IHI, NPSF multiplies efforts around patient safety
![Nancy Howell Agee](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/agee25.jpg)
Nancy Howell Agee
Nancy Howell Agee: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Nancy Howell Agee and her team help rejuvenate a region with Carilion’s success
![Debra Cafaro](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/cafaro25.jpg)
Debra Cafaro
Debra Cafaro: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
From lawyer to leader: Debra Cafaro’s turnaround of Ventas a remarkable, evolving success story
![Marna Borgstrom](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/borgstrom25-2017.jpg)
Marna Borgstrom
Marna Borgstrom: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Healthcare’s volatility has Marna Borgstrom rethinking how her organization develops leaders
![Beverly Malone](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/malone25.jpg)
Beverly Malone
Beverly Malone: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Beverly Malone inspires countless nurses with skills that earned her a seat alongside royalty
![Deborah Bowen](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/bowen25-2017.jpg)
Deborah Bowen
Deborah Bowen: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Deborah Bowen’s purposeful leadership sets the tone for ACHE members
![Deborah DiSanzo](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/disanzo25.jpg)
Deborah DiSanzo
Deborah DiSanzo: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Deborah DiSanzo sees IBM Watson Health change patients’ lives — including her own
![Laura Kaiser](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/kaiser25.jpg)
Laura Kaiser
Laura Kaiser: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Laura Kaiser of SSM Health brings courage, conviction to questions around healthcare’s future
![Marla Silliman](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/silliman25.jpg)
Marla Silliman
Marla Silliman: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Florida Hospital’s Marla Silliman hopes to mentor a new generation of women leaders
![Leah Binder](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/binder25-2017.jpg)
Leah Binder
Leah Binder: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Hospital Safety Grade is a powerful way that Leah Binder and Leapfrog Group keep patients safer
![Katherine Schneider](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/schneider25.jpg)
Katherine Schneider
Katherine Schneider: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Delaware Valley ACO’s Katherine Schneider uses population health to improve patients’ lives, one at a time
![wright25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/wright25.jpg)
Halee Fischer-Wright
Halee Fischer-Wright: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Halee Fischer-Wright recalibrates MGMA to give it a more resonant voice in healthcare
![candio25-1](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/candio25-1.jpg)
Christine Candio
Christine Candio: 2017 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Former ACHE chair Christine Candio charts a nimble, independent course for St. Luke’s Hospital
![finley25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/finley25.jpg)
Delvecchio Finley
Delvecchio Finley: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Delvecchio Finley: Medical care only part of the solution to health disparities
![Debra Canales](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/canales25.jpg)
Debra Canales
Debra Canales: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Debra Canales strives to put people first in the mission of healthcare
![Ketul Patel](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/patel25.jpg)
Ketul Patel
Ketul Patel: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
A sense of mission drives Ketul Patel at CHI Franciscan Health
![Philip Ozuah](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/ozuah25.jpg)
Philip Ozuah
Philip Ozuah: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Philip Ozuah finds his life’s calling as he works to eradicate health disparities in the Bronx
![Eugene Woods](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/woods25.jpg)
Eugene Woods
Eugene Woods: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Gene Woods’ influential leadership poised to enhance Carolinas HealthCare System
![Bruce Siegel](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/siegel25.jpg)
Bruce Siegel
Bruce Siegel: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Bruce Siegel: Hospitals need to listen to their communities to tackle health disparities
![Patricia Maryland](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/maryland25.jpg)
Patricia Maryland
Patricia Maryland: 2016 Top 25 Minority
Patricia Maryland: Taking risks helps leaders grow
![mcdonald25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/mcdonald25.jpg)
Tauana McDonald
Tauana McDonald: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Strategic excellence is Tauana McDonald’s calling card at Trinity Health
![haywood25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/haywood25.jpg)
Trent Haywood
Trent Haywood: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
BCBSA’s Trent Haywood: Clinical executives essential in move to value-based care
![Pamela Sutton-Wallace](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/wallace25.jpg)
Pamela Sutton-Wallace
Pamela Sutton-Wallace: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives
Pamela Sutton-Wallace looks to enhance UVA’s stellar reputation
![Ruth Brinkley](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/brinkley25-2017.jpg)
Ruth Brinkley
Ruth Brinkley: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
After a complex merger, Ruth Brinkley strives to build a new culture at KentuckyOne Health
![Nicholas Tejeda](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/tejeda25.jpg)
Nicholas Tejeda
Nicholas Tejeda: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Nicholas Tejeda: The ACA reinforces the need for younger leadership
![Wright Lassiter](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/lassiter25.jpg)
Wright Lassiter
Wright Lassiter: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives
Wright Lassiter: In healthcare’s new order, no time to bask in past success
![Sumit Nagpal](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/nagpal25.jpg)
Sumit Nagpal
Sumit Nagpal: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Sumit Nagpal’s innovations at LumiraDx take aim at overhauling care for chronic conditions
![Sachin Jain](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/jain25.jpg)
Sachin Jain
Sachin Jain: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Healthcare is broken. Sachin Jain and colleagues want to help transform it
![Georges Benjamin](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/2016benjamin25.jpg)
Georges Benjamin
Georges Benjamin: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Georges Benjamin: Apathy, political agendas threaten progress in public health
![Leon Clark](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/clark25.jpg)
Leon Clark
Leon Clark: 2016 Top 25 Minority Executives in
Leon Clark helps guide the transformation of Mayo Clinic
![Susan DeVore](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/devore25.jpg)
Susan DeVore
Susan DeVore: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Susan DeVore’s bold leadership puts Premier on a path to transform healthcare
![Maureen Bisognano](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Bisognano25.jpg)
Maureen Bisognano
Maureen Bisognano: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Maureen Bisognano looks beyond the healthcare silo for improvement
![Patricia Maryland](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/maryland25%20(1).jpg)
Patricia Maryland
Patricia Maryland: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
At Ascension, Patricia Maryland’s patient-centered focus aligns with a passion for analytics
![Karen Ignagni](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Ignagni25.jpg)
Karen Ignagni
Karen Ignagni: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Karen Ignagni: The post-ACA landscape offers a blank slate for visionary healthcare leaders
![Elizabeth Nabel](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Nabel25.jpg)
Elizabeth Nabel
Elizabeth Nabel: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Elizabeth Nabel strives to make an impact in healthcare
![Deborah Bowen](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/bowen25.jpg)
Deborah Bowen
Deborah Bowen: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Deborah Bowen: Leadership still about people trying to make a difference
![Marna Borgstrom](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Borgstrom25.jpg)
Marna Borgstrom
Marna Borgstrom: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Marna Borgstrom: A new era calls for a new kind of leadership
![Binder25 (1)](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Binder25%20(1).jpg)
Leah Binder
Leah Binder: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Leah Binder and Leapfrog Group put pressure on healthcare providers to deliver on quality
![Penny Wheeler](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Wheeler25%20(1).jpg)
Penny Wheeler
Penny Wheeler: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Penny Wheeler: Even in value-based care, leaders of varying backgrounds can thrive
![Brainerd25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Brainerd25.jpg)
Mary Brainerd
Mary Brainerd: 2015 Top 25 Women in
At HealthPartners, Mary Brainerd’s leadership approaches solutions from a nuanced angle
![Donna Lynne](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Lynne25.jpg)
Donna Lynne
Donna Lynne: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Donna Lynne: Healthcare leaders need to be able to manage crisis, volatility
![Tejal Gandhi](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/gandhi25-2017.jpg)
Tejal Gandhi
Tejal Gandhi: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Tejal Gandhi: Push for quality, safety needs to come from boards
![Sister Carol Keehan](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Keehan25.jpg)
Sister Carol Keehan
Sister Carol Keehan: 2015 Top 25 Women in
Sister Carol Keehan: Gender diversity is a must-have for healthcare leadership — and so is
solidarity with the poor
![Pam Cipriano](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Cipriano25.jpg)
Pam Cipriano
Pam Cipriano: 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare
Pam Cipriano: In value-based care, nurses are ready to lead
![Nancy Schlichting](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Schlichting25.jpg)
Nancy Schlichting
Nancy Schlichting: 2015 Top 25 Women in
Nancy Schlichting’s willingness to take risks is still paying off for Henry Ford Health
System
![Brown-25](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Brown-25.jpg)
George Brown
George Brown: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Innovation keeps George Brown, Legacy ahead of the curve
![Ana Pujols McKee](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/McKee-25.jpg)
Ana Pujols McKee
Ana Pujols McKee: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Quality, safety fuel Ana Pujols McKee’s drive at The Joint Commission
![Bernard J. Tyson](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Tyson-25.jpg)
Bernard J. Tyson
Bernard Tyson: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Bernard Tyson: Workers will share in health care costs, but cost shifting is not sustainable
![Lloyd Dean](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Dean-25.jpg)
Lloyd Dean
Lloyd Dean: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Dignity Health’s Lloyd Dean leads from experience and welcomes ‘healthcare for all’
![Eugene Woods](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Woods-25.jpg)
Eugene Woods
Eugene Woods: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Diverse leadership key to solving health disparities, says Christus Health’s Eugene Woods
![Anthony Armada](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Armada-25.jpg)
Anthony Armada
Anthony Armada: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Tony Armada aims to bring the Baldrige process to Swedish
![Georges Benjamin](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Benjamin-25.jpg)
Georges Benjamin
Georges Benjamin: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Georges Benjamin of APHA advocates for a better health system
![David Lopez](https://www.furstgroup.com/hubfs/Furst-Group-March2018/Image/Lopez-25.jpg)
David Lopez
David Lopez: 2014 Top 25 Minority Executives
Foresight is the key to David Lopez’s leadership