UofM News

Strong named CEO of Hospitals and Health Centers

By Katie Gazella
Medical School Communications

Doug Strong has been named director and chief executive officer of the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers (UMHHC), pending approval by the Board of Regents, after serving in the post on an interim basis since October 2005.

(Photo courtesy UMHHC)

In that time, Strong has proven that he is the right person to steer the UMHHC on a continued path toward sustained growth and efficiency, says Dr. Robert P. Kelch, executive vice president for medical affairs and U-M Health System CEO.

"This is a tremendously challenging time in the health care industry, so it is especially noteworthy that Doug has helped the Hospitals and Health Centers remain on solid footing. He is a steady and thoughtful presence, and I have great faith that he will serve the institution well for years to come," Kelch says.

The CEO Search Advisory Committee reviewed nearly 40 resumes, interviewed nine candidates and submitted a short list of finalists to Kelch. The HHC Executive Board—which, along with the Senior Management Team, conducted interviews with the finalists—unanimously supported the appointment.

Strong's appointment has been reviewed with the Board of Regents Personnel, Compensation and Governance Committee and is effective Aug. 1, pending approval of the full board at its July 21 meeting.

Strong says he looks forward to building on the foundation he and others have established during his nine months as interim CEO and his previous tenure as chief financial officer. His goals for keeping the institution strong are twofold.

"We must achieve two goals simultaneously—improve the quality of health care as we improve the cost and efficiency," he says. "It is a challenge, but we are constantly finding new ways to meet that challenge."

Strong replaces Larry Warren, who retired in September after 29 years with the Health System.

Strong was hired in 1998, soon after the creation of the Health System, and was named interim CFO of the Hospitals and Health Centers in 2002. He was appointed to the permanent position in 2004. Strong came to Michigan from the University of Chicago, where he served as chief financial officer and associate dean of the Pritzker School of Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division.

Before that, he was associate dean for administration and finance at the School of Medicine of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and associate dean of planning and operations at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He also held several positions at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Strong holds a Master of Business Administration degree in health care administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Master of Arts degree from Penn's School of Arts and Sciences.

The search advisory committee was chaired by Dr. Lazar J. Greenfield, professor emeritus of surgery and former interim executive vice president for medical affairs; and Deborah Childs, chief human resources officer for UMHS.