On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are thrilled to share the news that after a competitive national search, we have appointed Joseph G. Cacchione, MD as the incoming enterprise-wide CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, effective September 6, 2022.
We have found a remarkable leader, and we will be making this announcement today. Dr. Cacchione comes from Ascension Health, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the U.S., where he has served as an integral leader since 2017. Most recently, Dr. Cacchione served as Executive Vice President, Clinical and Network Services (CNS), for Ascension Health, a $28B organization with 165,000 employees across 145 hospitals and 2,600+ care sites in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Before his current role, he served as CEO of Ascension Michigan with 15 hospitals and 22,000 employees.
While at Ascension, he was instrumental in building the new strategic plan focused on moving to differentiated quality, value, and consumer centricity. He also led Ascension’s enterprise initiative to centralize operations and created an operating company with a common purpose and mission. He has helped develop and launch proprietary accountable care organizations to address the needs of uninsured patients and created multiple programs to help increase health equity.
Joseph G. Cacchione
Before his time at Ascension Health, Dr. Cacchione spent eight years at the Cleveland Clinic, a leading academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education, where he played a major enterprise role in business development while also serving as Chairman of Operations and Strategy for its Heart and Vascular Institute. And, before that, he spent 20 years as a private practice cardiologist and large private physician practice executive. The depth and breadth of Dr. Cacchione’s previous experience in different markets and business conditions—as well as his demonstrated commitment to DEI both internal to his team and organization and with respect to health and academic equity—make him well-suited to lead Jefferson as it continues to shape the future of healthcare, higher education, and research.
The naming of Dr. Cacchione as the Jefferson enterprise CEO is part of the Board’s development of a new senior executive operating model. Jefferson Health President Bruce A. Meyer, MD, MBA, and Thomas Jefferson University President Mark L. Tykocinski, MD will both report directly to Dr. Cacchione. We believe this new model will further the enterprise mission to improve lives and to reach new heights in higher education, research, and clinical care.
We are grateful to Rich Haverstick for his tireless work as the interim leader of Jefferson since January of this year. Rich has provided the continuity to keep Jefferson moving forward during this time of transition. He has graciously agreed to assist with Dr. Cacchione’s onboarding through December. Chief Human Resource Officer Clayton Fitzhugh has also agreed to lead the transition team for Dr. Cacchione. He will work closely with us, Rich, and Dr. Cacchione to ensure a smooth transition.
We are also grateful to the CEO Search Committee who, together with Egon Zehnder, led this national search and dedicated themselves to identifying and assessing feedback from more than 450 people. This has been the most extensive and inclusive assessment process Jefferson has ever engaged in for a leadership search. We cannot thank them enough for their commitment and thoughtful approach.
The result of this teamwork and collaboration is a CEO who embodies the spirit and mission of Jefferson and will strategically lead us into the future of higher education and healthcare.
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