Becker's Hospital Review

14 2015 YEAR REVIEW in 20 Healthcare CEOs Name the Person of the Year & Event That Fascinated Them Most in 2015 By Kelly Gooch, Erin Marshall and Tamara Rosin W ho would you nominate as healthcare's "person of the year" for 2015? David Bailey, MD President and CEO of Nemours Children's Health System (Jacksonville, Fla.) is isn't for any single act, but my nom- ination is for Leah Binder, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based e Leapfrog Group. Year upon year, Leah and Leapfrog have pushed the quality and safe- ty agenda. I think [e Leapfrog Group is] the most reliable and objective group in assessing health systems for quality and safety. It's a difficult task. ey provide fan- tastic service, and I think Leah Binder has not received the recognition she deserves. Patrick Board President and CEO of Union Health System (Terre Haute, Ind.) I'd nominate Mar- ilyn Tavenner, for- mer administrator of CMS. I believe she's changed the dialogue of provider organizations. Ruth Brinkley President and CEO of KentuckyOne Health (Louisville) In his final year as Kentucky governor, Gov. Steve Beshear continued to be a champion for healthcare. In 2015, Gov. Beshear led the passage and immediate implementa- tion of a landmark piece of legislation to fight heroin abuse in Kentucky, featuring avenues for treatment and needle exchang- es for addicts, along with stiffer penalties for drug traffickers. He expanded Medicaid access and helped introduce Kynect, the successful state health exchange. Joined by his wife, First Lady Jane Beshear, they are advocates for preventative screening, help- ing to raise money for outreach programs across the state. I'd also nominate Chief Justice John Roberts. e ruling on King v. Burwell in June marked another major victory in the long-term implementation of the Afford- able Care Act. Chief Justice Roberts helped confirm continued access to care for mil- lions of Americans and made potential future reversal of the legislation a greater challenge. Kenneth Davis, MD President and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System (New York) I would nominate Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of CMS, for his work on HealthCare.gov. Howard Drenth President and CEO of Presence Medical Group (Chicago) I'd nominate Caro- lyn R. "Bo" Aldigé, president, CEO and founder of the Pre- vent Cancer Foun- dation. e Foun- dation is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and Bo has been a tremendous leader for this cause. Larry Kaiser, MD President and CEO of Temple University Health System (Philadelphia) I would nominate Rich Umbdenstock, the outgoing president of the American Hos- pital Association. He has been an absolute- ly tireless advocate for hospitals and really started the whole process of redefining the "H." We look at hospitals differently now — they are no longer just the centrality of patient care. Margo Karsten, PhD CEO of Cheyenne (Wyo.) Regional Medical Center and Cheyenne Regional Medical Group Richard Miller, president and CEO of Virtua [in Marl- ton, N.J.]. I don't think he's received any national recogni- tion, and I met him when I was consulting, and he is probably the most humble CEO. And what I loved about him is his focus on authentic leadership and the sense of balance he instills as a formal leader. I think he's established a very innovative, forward-thinking health system, which I think most CEOs try to do. In addition to that, I think the imprint he makes on their culture as a leader should be recognized nationally. Mike Kasper CEO of DuPage Medical Group (Downers Grove, Ill.) I'd nominate Kent iry, chairman and CEO of DaVita HealthCare Partners. Kent is working on putting together an alter- native to the hospital employment model for physicians. Creating some alternatives for patients and physicians outside of one model is important, and he's doing that from the pedestal of a publicly traded company. John J. (Jack) Lynch III President and CEO of Main Line Health (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) It's really tough, there are so many deserving nomi- nees. I would say Rich Umbdenstock,

• Cover