By LISA EISENHAUER
Lloyd H. Dean, chief executive of CommonSpirit Health, plans to retire next summer after 22 years as a national leader in the Catholic health ministry.
Lloyd H. Dean
He had a leading role in the February 2019 merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives that created CommonSpirit Health, the nation's largest Catholic health system and he continues to lead system integration. The Chicago-based system has 140 hospitals, 1,500 care sites, 150,000 employees and physicians across 21 states.
Dean, 71, had been chief executive of Dignity Health (previously Catholic Healthcare West) for 19 years before the merger. Initially, he shared the chief executive responsibilities at CommonSpirit Health with Kevin E. Lofton, who had been chief executive of CHI. Dean has been CommonSpirit Health's s sole chief executive since Lofton's retirement in June 2020.
Tessie Guillermo, chair of CommonSpirit's Board of Stewardship Trustees, said in the press release announcing Dean's plans that he has been "one of our country's leading voices for expanding access to quality health care."
Guillermo added: "Lloyd steered our organization through one of the most important periods for health care in our country's history, and we will forever be grateful for his leadership."
Dean said in the press release that heading CommonSpirit has been "the job of my life and I cannot overstate how much I have enjoyed every moment of it nor how much I believe in the future of CommonSpirit Health."
"I'm looking forward to the next year during which I plan to advance our strategic priorities, ensure our patients are receiving the very best care possible, support our caregivers, do everything I can to help end this pandemic, and continue to advocate for health equity and social justice in this extraordinary country," he said.
A crusader for health equity, Dean cites with pride CommonSpirit's $100 million commitment to increase the number of black doctors and culturally competent clinicians in the U.S. through a partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine. Dean also has been a strong advocate for environmental stewardship. Earlier this year, he joined the governor of Washington and the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, as co-chair of America Is All In, a partnership of communities, businesses and institutions focused on addressing climate change.
Dean served on the CHA Board of Trustees from July 2002 to June 2010, and was chair of that body from July 2008 to June 2009 in the run-up to the passage of the Affordable Care Act. He was an outspoken advocate for the legislation which expanded health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.
Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, CHA's president and chief executive officer said: "Lloyd Dean's retirement will mark the end of an era in Catholic health care. Starting with Catholic Health West to Dignity Health and now CommonSpirit Health, Lloyd has been a fearless leader advocating for accessible and affordable quality health care for all. His vision, commitment to mission and style of personal engagement are attributes that set him apart and contribute to his great success. He will be sorely missed throughout the ministry."
In identifying candidates to succeed Dean, the executive search committee of CommonSpirit board will be assisted by Russell Reynolds Associates.