Mr. Patel is CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and president of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health’s Northwest Region. In his role, he leads one of Washington state’s largest health care systems with 12 hospitals, over 300 care locations and 20,000 team members. He has driven transformative initiatives, including expanding access to care through partnerships with One Medical and Optum, launching Washington’s first hybrid emergency room/urgent care centers, and creating a network supporting independent health systems across the Pacific Northwest. Committed to health equity, Mr. Patel has spearheaded efforts to combat food insecurity, prevent violence, and build a diverse clinical workforce through initiatives like medical student training programs and a new health sciences campus. Under his leadership, the system has also prioritized employee wellness with investments in compensation, education and retention strategies, achieving its highest retention rates since before the pandemic. A prominent voice in health policy, Mr. Patel collaborates with civic leaders to address pressing social issues and advocates for innovative solutions to regional health challenges.
