CommonSpirit Health announced that following a national search, Wright L. Lassiter III will succeed Lloyd H. Dean as its next CEO starting on Aug. 1. Dean announced last fall that he would retire this year.
Lassiter brings 30 years of experience working in large, complex health systems, most recently at Henry Ford Health. As CEO since 2016, Lassiter led Henry Ford through the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly expanded its footprint and grew its revenue, and earned recognition for the system’s focus on employee well-being and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.
Lassiter is the current Board Chair of the American Hospital Association, and is known as a powerful voice for improving care and a champion for health equity.
“Wright’s accomplishments and career focus embody CommonSpirit’s vision of health care as an essential aspect of every person’s life,” said CommonSpirit Board member and incoming Board Chair Chris Lowney. “His experience and success with complex health systems positions him well to lead our organization on our mission to deliver better health to all Americans.”
As CommonSpirit’s next CEO, Lassiter will lead one of the country’s largest and most diverse health care organizations, with a network of 140 hospitals and more than 1,500 care sites across 21 states and seven geographic divisions. CommonSpirit is a nonprofit, Catholic provider system that includes leading health care brands such as Dignity Health, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, CHI Health, Centura Health, and Baylor St. Luke’s, and is among the nation’s top providers of Medicaid and Medicare services.
“Throughout his career, Wright has demonstrated that he shares our commitment as a Catholic health system to improving the health of those we serve, especially those most in need, and advancing social justice for all people,” said Sr. Barbara Hagedorn, SC, president of Catholic Health Care Federation, CommonSpirit’s sponsoring body.
Lassiter will work with the Board and executive leadership team to advance CommonSpirit’s strategic priorities and to guide the organization’s next phase of growth and financial sustainability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A key area of focus will include supporting the health and well-being of CommonSpirit’s nurses, physicians, and staff.
“CommonSpirit plays a special and indispensable role in communities across America,” said Lassiter. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization, which is a driving force for access to high-quality, essential services for all. I look forward to working with CommonSpirit’s Board, leadership team, our talented nurses and physicians, and all of our employees to help advance the health of those we serve.”
About Wright Lassiter III
Lassiter has a proven track record of success with nonprofit, public, and faith-based health organizations. As CEO of Henry Ford, Lassiter led the system through a comprehensive strategic planning effort, completed two successful mergers that expanded the system’s geographic footprint and grew revenues, and implemented a recent rebranding.
Prior to joining Henry Ford, Lassiter was CEO of Alameda Health System in Oakland, CA, where he was credited with leading the expansion of the public health system. As Board Chair of the American Hospital Association, he plays a key role in advancing the priorities of hospitals across the country, and was a past chair of America’s Essential Hospitals.
Originally from Tuskegee, AL, Lassiter received his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Indiana University. Lassiter completed his bachelor’s degree with honors in Chemistry from Le Moyne, a Jesuit college in upstate New York.
About CommonSpirit Health
CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. With its national office in Chicago and a team of over 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 140 hospitals and more than 1,500 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2021, CommonSpirit had revenues of $33.3 billion and provided $5.1 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs.
