Ketul J. Patel has dedicated his career to expanding access to healthcare, specifically for the most vulnerable in communities across the United States. Under Mr. Patel’s visionary leadership during a global pandemic, two of the Pacific Northwest’s leading healthcare organizations—CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason—merged to form Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in January 2021. VMFH is one of Washington state’s largest premier healthcare providers. As CEO of VMFH, and president of the Pacific Northwest Division of CommonSpirit Health, Mr. Patel is focused on developing innovative solutions to expand access to world-class care throughout the region. Mr. Patel led the organization to earn more “A” Leapfrog Patient Safety Grades than any system in Washington state, ranking among the best facilities in the nation.

The PNW Division of CommonSpirit Health is comprised of VMFH, as well as two hospitals in Oregon. Mr. Patel is responsible for 13 hospitals, more than 300 patient care locations and more than 18,000 team members, including more than 5,600 employed physicians, advanced practice providers and community providers. Additionally, Mr. Patel has executive oversight over the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS; the Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research; and the Virginia Mason Institute, which trains healthcare professionals and others around the world in the Virginia Mason Production System, an innovative management method for improving quality and safety.

Throughout his career, Mr. Patel has been honored both regionally and nationally for his leadership and contributions to the healthcare industry. Most notably, he is a three-time honoree on Modern Healthcare’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare—featured among the country’s most influential and seasoned industry leaders. He was featured as one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Leaders, and one of the country’s Minority Executives to Watch. In 2019, he was awarded Nonprofit Healthcare Leader of the Year by the University of Washington Tacoma Milgard School of Business.

Mr. Patel is an active board member of the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, Washington State Hospital Association, Association of Washington Business, Washington Health Alliance, the Carol Milgard Breast Center and Executive Council co-chair of Greater Seattle Partners. In 2017, Mr. Patel served as chair of the first combined Seattle and Tacoma American Heart and Stroke Association Heart Walks where he made history for raising the most funds and participation than any previous chair in the Puget Sound region.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Patel served in various strategic- and operations-focused executive leader positions with Hackensack (N.J.) University Health Network, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Magee-Women’s Hospital, Franciscan Health Alliance St. James in Chicago, and Sharp HealthCare in San Diego.

He holds master’s degrees in health administration and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.