Will focus on regional collaborative efforts
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Glenn Fosdick |
After more than 30 years as a leader in health care administration, Glenn Fosdick has announced that he will retire at the end of the year as president and CEO of The Nebraska Medical Center.
“I started discussing my retirement with the board three years ago,” Fosdick said. “This is my 19th year as a CEO, and given the tremendous efforts underway to integrate our clinical enterprise, now is a logical time for me to transition my responsibilities to the next leadership team, while focusing on our collaborative efforts with partner organizations around the region.”
The Nebraska Medical Center was a much different place in 2001. Fosdick led the effort to change its name from Nebraska Health System to The Nebraska Medical Center. He put a renewed focus on quality, on finding new ways to practice medicine and improving the way health care was delivered.
Three years after taking the helm, The Nebraska Medical Center was first in consumer awareness and preference and had the highest market share in the Omaha metropolitan area.
Under Fosdick’s guidance and leadership, the medical center has extended its reach and has become a regional medical care delivery system that now includes: a joint venture orthopedic specialty hospital – Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital; a suburban cancer center; and a community hospital in Bellevue, Neb. – Bellevue Medical Center. It also has relationships with hospitals in Fairfax, Mo. and Shenandoah, Iowa.
“Glenn has led with conviction, integrity, a pioneering spirit and vision. His commitment and passion for quality health care has helped propel The Nebraska Medical Center to become the leading tertiary care center in the region,” said Bruce Lauritzen, chairman of The Nebraska Medical Center board of directors. “I am sure that Glenn will look back for years to come and smile with satisfaction at the difference he’s made in helping to build this health system.”
“With Glenn at the helm, The Nebraska Medical Center has earned a strong reputation for high-quality patient care, effective operations and innovation in today’s rapidly changing health care environment,” said University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken. “Glenn’s leadership, vision and commitment to quality have served the hospital and its partners well and will position us for success in a new era for health care.”
Prior to his years in Omaha, Fosdick led Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich., as president and CEO from 1995-2001. He also served as Hurley’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Fosdick held senior leadership positions at The Buffalo General Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. (1980-1992) and Genesee Memorial Hospital in Batavia, N.Y. (1976-1980).
Fosdick’s goals of becoming a leader in health care began when he was a child. When he was in the tenth grade, he had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Where some children might feel a pull toward a career as a physician or nurse, Fosdick said he felt a different calling.
“It was a significant experience. It gave me a great appreciation for the unique culture of hospitals,” he said. “What a unique opportunity to connect with a broad spectrum of people in the community. I’ve met presidents, vice presidents and I’ve met gang members. I’ve worked with remarkable people, incredibly talented physicians, dedicated professional nursing staff. People who made things change and get better because of their imagination and commitment.”
A fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Fosdick is known nationally as an “out of the box” thinker in health care administration. The medical center adopted the quality improvement system developed by Toyota, an operating room safety program pioneered by the aviation industry, and a customer service plan modeled after five star hotels.
In addition to his leadership role at The Nebraska Medical Center, Fosdick also has served as senior associate dean at the UNMC College of Medicine since 2002.
“Under Glenn’s leadership, the hospital increased its efficiency greatly, and the hospital was very successful during his tenure,” UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said. “Glenn also was a strong advocate for quality care throughout the hospital. I heard often from patients about the extra mile that nurses and others would go for them. That doesn’t just happen by coincidence; that’s an expectation that Glenn set, and it permeated throughout the hospital staff.”
“I’ve known Glenn since he moved to Omaha,” said James Armitage, M.D., professor of oncology at UNMC. “He’s done a tremendous job here and has become a national figure in hospital administration.”
Most recently, Fosdick has advocated locally and nationally about the need for reforming health care and the changes that are taking place. Under his leadership, The Nebraska Medical Center recently implemented a system-wide electronic health system aimed at improving patient care and efficiency.
“When Glenn arrived 12 years ago, he brought stability and leadership,” said James Canedy, M.D., president of Clarkson Regional Health Services. “He’s also helped the med center build strategic relationships throughout Nebraska and the region.”
Fosdick has been heavily involved with a new partnership among nine health systems in Nebraska, and beyond his retirement as CEO, he will continue this work on behalf of the med center.
Nowhere has the partnership between UNMC and the hospital been more evident than in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the largest single project ever at the medical center.
Fellow leaders recognize Fosdick for his vision and drive in helping turn a good idea into a transformative part of the future of UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center.
Thousands of employees at The Nebraska Medical Center will likely remember Fosdick’s leadership style as friendly and good-natured. During monthly employee forums, employees could always count on him for a joke as well as a very honest and personal assessment of issues in health care.
“I’ve had the occasion to be with Glenn when he’s around elected officials, dignitaries, as well as hospital employees from maintenance workers to nurses – people of all different backgrounds and experiences,” said Tadd Pullin, senior vice president of marketing and strategy development. “He’s always the same guy – approachable, engaged and prepared at any moment to share tangible examples of why The Nebraska Medical Center is an extraordinary place.”