Omar Lateef, DO, is president and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center, a leading academic health system in Chicago.
A pulmonary and critical care physician, Dr. Lateef was appointed president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center in 2019, became president of the system in 2021, and assumed the system CEO role in 2022. He previously served as CMO of Rush University Medical Center and as an associate dean, and he is a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Florida and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University, completing his internship and residency at NYU Downtown Hospital and a fellowship at Rush.
Under Dr. Lateef’s leadership, Rush has earned national recognition for quality and led a prominent response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Chicago. A physician-executive who pairs clinical credibility with system leadership, he serves on the National Advisory Council for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is known for emphasizing quality, equity and the academic mission. Regarded as one of the most influential healthcare leaders in Chicago, his tenure reflects a commitment to advancing care for the surrounding community.