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Gwen M. MacKenzie, RN, MN, MHSA

CEO,
Market Executive and Senior Vice President,
Ascension

Gwen MacKenzie is a CEO with more than 30 years’ experience leading complex healthcare organizations undergoing transformation, strategic repositioning and new service innovation. Gwen is a known problem-solver, turnaround and transformation expert. Until recently, as a senior executive with Ascension, she had oversight for the Michigan market of 15 hospitals and health systems with P&L responsibility for $3.7B in operating revenue. Michigan was one of the largest markets in Ascension with 26,000 associates, and 5,300 physicians serving one of every eight Michigan residents in over 130 sites of care. Gwen has board experience in several states with public, elected and not for profit boards. Gwen also recently served as the CEO of First Step, of Sarasota, a $22M behavioral health organization, consolidating 2 organizations with a full continuum of mental health and addiction services. She has recently joined McKinsey and Company as a Senior Advisor in their global healthcare practice. She is also consulting with Quick, Leonard, Kieffer in Chicago. Gwen also teaches emotional intelligence and executive leadership at the University of Michigan. Emotional intelligence as a leader, communication skills, and strategic orientation to market dynamics are known strengths.

Under her tenure as CEO (market executive and senior vice president of Ascension) Gwen pioneered the development of the first statewide clinically integrated network in Michigan addressing population health (Together Health Network) with Ascension Michigan and Trinity Health and led the recent strategic addition of the University of Michigan. Merger and acquisition experience includes the competitive acquisition of Crittenton Hospital and Medical Center, adding to the growth portfolio of the Michigan assets. Gwen then led the integration, cultural realignment, and board restructuring. Serving as an innovator for Ascension she also led the market and governance transformation from an acute care hospital model to statewide integration and population health. Previous CEO experience includes leadership of the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, a $1B healthcare system in Florida and 25 years at the Detroit Medical Center, a $1.6B healthcare system as interim system CEO, COO and president of Sinai Grace Hospital, Harper-Hutzel Hospital and Karmanos Cancer Institute.