Sacramento’s Sutter Health taps health care industry veteran Warner Thomas as new CEO
_fitted.jpeg "Incoming Sutter Health CEO Warner Thomas said he will lean on “my years of experience growing complex, integrated healthcare systems through developing medical programs, expanding physician networks and creating new payer partnerships” when the takes the reins.")
Sacramento-based Sutter Health announced Tuesday that its board of directors has tapped veteran health care industry leader Warner L. Thomas to be the next president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit hospital system.
Thomas, will take the reins Dec. 1 from interim CEO James Conforti, has served as president and CEO of Louisiana’s largest private employer, New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, for the past 10 years. For 12 years prior to that, Thomas served as the company’s president and chief operating officer.
“After a comprehensive national search, we are thrilled to have found the right leader for the next chapter of Sutter Health. Warner is a CEO grounded in Sutter’s community roots and values,” said Gubby Barlow, chair of Sutter Health’s Board of Directors. “As the first external CEO of this organization in more than 40 years, Warner brings a fresh perspective, strategic vision and an exceptional ability to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape.”
Warner, 56, led Ochsner through significant expansion across the Gulf South, acquiring other systems and building new hospitals, according to the company history. Ochsner has 36,000 employees and more than 4,600 employed and affiliated physicians at its 40-plus hospitals, including academic medical centers affiliated with Louisiana State University.
At Sutter Health, Thomas will lead roughly 53,000 employees and more than 12,000 physicians at 24 hospitals. They serve more than 3 million California residents.
“As the landscape continues to evolve, I believe there are opportunities for Sutter Health to continue to advance the future of healthcare,” Thomas said in a news release. “Leaning on my years of experience growing complex, integrated healthcare systems through developing medical programs, expanding physician networks and creating new payer partnerships, I’m excited to help build on Sutter Health’s past successes. I look forward to helping shape an era of equitable, accessible and affordable healthcare with long-lasting benefits to Sutter Health’s patients and communities in Northern California.”
Sutter described Thomas as a grounded-yet-visionary leader who was the first Ochsner CEO to come from outside the physician ranks. Thomas engaged the physician community, seeking input from them in the strategic decision-making process and building physician and administrative leadership programs to support the improved delivery of care.
US News & World Report ranked Ochsner as Louisiana’s top hospital for more than a decade and consistently ranked Ochsner’s children’s hospital as No. 1 in the state as well. Becker’s Hospital Review selected Ochsner as one of the “100 Greatest Hospitals in America”
Sutter has struggled with financial losses over the last few years as it has made significant investments to treat patients with COVID-19 and to settle lawsuits related to Medicare and allegations of anticompetitive business practices..
Correction: An electronic version of this article incorrectly stated the number of physicians affiliated with Sutter Health hospitals. There are more than 12,000.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 9:09 AM.
