Warner Thomas was recently recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare of 2023. This is the second year in a row that Thomas has received this award. The ranking can be found in the Dec. 4 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine. Profiles of all the honorees are also available online.

As the President and CEO of Sutter Health, the 11th largest healthcare system in the U.S., Thomas oversees a team of 53,000 employees. The organization partners with 14,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians from seven medical groups and numerous independent physician associations in Northern California. Together, they have a storied national reputation for serving one of the country’s most diverse, innovative regions and currently provide healthcare services to 3.3 million patients today.

In his first year as Sutter’s President and CEO, Thomas led and implemented numerous strategic changes that aim to significantly expand access to care, strengthen collaborations and partnerships—especially with physicians—and make care easier to navigate. Thomas also has infused unprecedented levels of energy, transparency and focus throughout the organization and Sutter has thrived under his leadership.

A few notable advancements in 2023 include:

• Developing a new long-term strategy, restructuring operations to better integrate functional teams and the care provided, and creating a physician-administrative dyad leadership structure at all levels of the organization
• Expanding access to care by launching ambitious plans to add 25 ambulatory care centers across Northern California in the next few years, bringing Sansum Clinic into the Sutter network to expand operations into California’s Central Coast, and completing projects like the opening of the Sutter Health Ambulatory Care Center and Surgery Center in San Jose and completion of the Sutter Davis Hospital expansion.
• Recruiting 650 physicians and clinicians to join Sutter Health and putting plans in motion to quadruple Sutter’s Graduate Medical Education program, increasing the number of residents trained from 200 to 900 by 2030.
• Hiring Sutter’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer to lead a robust plan to infuse diversity and equity into every facet of the organization.
• Applying a renewed focus on digital and emerging technologies across Sutter, making it easier for patients to navigate and access care online beginning with their ability to schedule and cancel appointments online and receive text updates from their care teams.
• Creating Sutter Health’s new Innovation Center to serve as a dynamic hub for creative solutions to shape the future of healthcare.
• Grew Sutter’s partnerships with community health non-profits to meet people’s unique needs at new and expanded health centers like the Sacramento Native American Health Center, which provides medical, mental health, dental, traditional and supportive health services.
• On track to raise the most philanthropy dollars – ever – enabling Sutter to fund increased access, new care innovations and more.

In just the last year, Sutter’s clinical teams have been recognized for quality care by premier national organizations like The Joint Commission, American Heart Association, U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, Leapfrog and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These recognitions span multiple segments of care, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical groups and specific service lines like stroke and maternity care. Awards like this are also evidence of Sutter Health’s impact on the healthcare industry and in the communities it serves.

Learn more about Thomas on the Sutter Health website.

About the Award

The 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare awards and recognition program honors individuals in healthcare who are deemed by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare to be the most influential individuals in the industry, in terms of leadership and impact. Now in its 22nd year, the award program allows for readers to vote for their top choices and selected honorees are published in Modern Healthcare’s annual ranking.