This is a brief introduction to one of America’s top healthcare leaders, Chris Van Gorder, FACHE. AHL founder and CEO Dan Nielsen’s in-depth interview with Van Gorder will be featured via video segments over the next few weeks.
Organization
Scripps Health – San Diego, CA
Title
President & CEO
Leadership Experience & Background
Since being named president and CEO of Scripps Health in 2000, Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, has led Scripps in a landmark turnaround to become one of the top health systems in America. Prior to joining Scripps, Van Gorder served in executive roles at Anaheim Memorial Hospital, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, and Memorial Health Services. A former police officer, Van Gorder began his career in healthcare at Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles. To read Van Gorder’s full bio, click here.
Passions
Van Gorder has an obvious passion for leadership, as well as corporate culture and healthcare in general. He regularly writes about these topics on his blog, Front-line Leader. His first book, The Front-Line Leader: Building a High-Performance Organization from the Ground Up was published in 2014.
3 Questions About Leadership
1. What do you enjoy most about working with your current team?
“I’m truly honored to work with a group of healthcare leaders second to none. It’s the group that has made Scripps and me successful. They are intelligent, dedicated, loyal and almost all have been with Scripps and me for the past 14-15 years. And they are like family to me—fun and caring.”
2. Can you share about one leader who has personally had a big impact on you?
“It was the CEO who I worked for as a department head, was my preceptor during my residency, gave me my first VP position, and who I eventually replaced as CEO. He has passed away now so I won’t give his name, but I learned a lot about what not to do as a CEO from him—and a lot about what I should do.”
3. What is one book you always recommend to other leaders?
“Of course I’d like to recommend my own book, The Front-Line Leader: Building a High-Performance Organization From the Ground Up—but to be fair, I’d also recommend any of Atul Gawande’s books. He is the greatest healthcare writer of our time.”
3 Questions Just for Fun
1. What was your first paid job?
“I worked as a clerk in a bookstore during high school, starting at the age of 13.”
2. What are your favorite hobbies?
“I love my work as a volunteer with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department—on the Search & Rescue Team and as a Reserve Deputy (Assistant Sheriff).”
3. What are one or two items on your bucket list?
“Two places I’d love to travel—Australia/New Zealand and to Scotland where my mother was born. Just never seem to find the time to do that.”
Video segments from the interview with Chris Van Gorder will be published incrementally, starting October 7th. Meanwhile, here’s a brief preview: