Mr. Woods leads Advocate Health, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit integrated health system, serving nearly six million patients across six states through 69 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites. Since the system’s 2022 formation, he has positioned it as a national leader in innovation, equity and workforce development. His vision led to “The Pearl,” a groundbreaking health innovation district projected to create over 11,000 jobs and unite academic, clinical and technology partners to redefine care delivery. He also directed a historic $1 billion investment to transform health and wellness on Chicago’s South Side, securing approval for the first new hospital in the area in a century. Mr. Woods championed $29.5 million in workforce and education initiatives, benefiting more than 15,000 teammates, and drove systemwide compensation increases totaling $764 million to strengthen retention and equity. A pioneer in clinical innovation, he implemented AI-powered “DAX Copilot” technology to reduce administrative burden, with 84% of clinicians reporting improved documentation experiences. Mr. Woods serves on the boards of the American Hospital Association, the Healthcare Leadership Council and Johnson C. Smith University. Under his leadership, Advocate Health earned more than 60 national recognitions for quality, safety and workplace excellence from U.S. News & World Report, Leapfrog and other respected healthcare publications.Lifetime Honorees: Influential CEOs Retiring in 2025
