Craig Kent, MD, has dedicated 30 years to health system leadership, consistently focusing on expanding patient access, delivering high-quality care, and providing advanced treatment for patients facing complex health issues. His career has spanned academic medicine, research, and executive leadership, with each role reinforcing his commitment to improving healthcare at both institutional and national levels. Dr. Craig Kent began his leadership path as Division Chief in Vascular Surgery at Columbia and Cornell, also overseeing the Vascular Service line at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He then served as Chair of the Department of Surgery at The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. At Ohio State University, he was appointed Dean of the College of Medicine, Vice President for Health Sciences, and Co-Leader of the Health System. His most recent leadership role was as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO at the University of Virginia Health System. His contributions have been recognized through his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. Nationally, Dr. Kent has also served as President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, and Chair of the American Board of Surgery, underscoring his long-term involvement in shaping the field of surgery and healthcare delivery. A major focus of Dr. Kent’s career has been research. He has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for over three decades and has chaired the Surgery and Bioengineering study section, as well as other NIH committees. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including molecular biology in vascular disease and healthcare outcomes. He has authored 360 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to 65 books and book chapters. His findings have been published in prominent medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Kent has also contributed to the academic field through editorial roles. He has served as editor or associate editor for publications including the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, and Haimovici’s Vascular Surgery and has served on the editorial boards of several respected peer-reviewed journals. As a speaker, Craig Kent, MD, has visited over 120 academic medical centers as a Visiting Professor or Honored Keynote Speaker. While serving as CEO of UVA Health, he led the health system through a period of notable growth. Revenue increased from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion, and the volume of patient care nearly doubled. Quality metrics reached their highest levels in ten years. Despite challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare staffing shortages, staff satisfaction rose by more than 15 percent across an organization of over 18,000 employees. During his tenure at UVA Health, Craig Kent oversaw the recruitment of over 500 new physicians and faculty members. The system expanded through the acquisition of three hospitals and a physician group in Northern Virginia, a minority investment in a five-hospital system in Eastern Virginia, and the purchase of a large multi-specialty practice. Research funding at the UVA School of Medicine increased by $60 million under his leadership. He also led the planning and development of UVA’s Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, which is expected to open in 2026. Philanthropy was another area of growth during his tenure. He helped triple philanthropic support for UVA Health and contributed to a $1 billion capital campaign, raising more than $650 million for the health system. At Ohio State, he led a faculty of 2,100 and a physician group comprising over 1,200 clinicians. His efforts there resulted in increased NIH funding, the hiring of over 400 new faculty members, the implementation of a faculty compensation plan, expanded clinical services, and $200 million in annual philanthropic contributions. At the University of Wisconsin, he led a significant expansion of the Department of Surgery, doubling its size and patient volume. He also helped elevate the department’s NIH ranking from 26th to 5th nationally. Earlier in his career, following the merger of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals, he led the vascular surgery divisions at Columbia and Cornell, creating one of the largest and most well-resourced academic vascular programs in the nation. Craig Kent has been honored with several academic and professional awards. He rose to the rank of Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and has held professorships at Cornell, Columbia, the University of Wisconsin, The Ohio State University, and the University of Virginia. His recognitions include induction into Alpha Omega Alpha at UCSF, the Fred and Ester Nusz Annual Achievement Award, the Harold Bengloff Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the E. J. Wylie Traveling Fellowship, awarded by the Society for Vascular Surgery. His clinical accomplishments have earned him multiple Top Doctor and Best Doctor designations. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of California, San Francisco. His postdoctoral training includes a surgical residency at UCSF, a vascular research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an endovascular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, and leadership training through the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Kent has held medical licenses in Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Virginia. He remains active in professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, Society for Vascular Surgery, American Surgical Association, Society of Surgical Chairs, International Surgical Group, American Board of Surgery, Blue Ridge Academic Health Group, and the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.