Craig Kent, MD, has spent the past 30 years shaping the field of health system leadership by prioritizing patient access, enhancing the quality of care, and addressing the needs of patients with the most complex health conditions. His work has been marked by consistent progress in academic medicine, research leadership, and the management of large-scale healthcare operations. Across each role, he has contributed to building stronger, more resilient institutions while maintaining a focus on advancing education and scientific discovery. Dr. Craig Kent’s leadership roles span several of the country’s leading academic medical centers. He began by serving as Division Chief in Vascular Surgery at Columbia and Cornell while also leading the Vascular Service line for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He later became Chair of the Department of Surgery at The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. At Ohio State University, he served as Dean of the College of Medicine, Vice President for Health Sciences, and Co-Leader of the Health System. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO of the University of Virginia Health System. His professional achievements earned him induction into the National Academy of Medicine. In addition, he held influential national roles, including President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, and Chair of the American Board of Surgery. These appointments reflect the trust placed in his ability to lead both clinical and educational efforts on a national scale. The National Institutes of Health has continuously funded Dr. Kent for more than 30 years. He has chaired the NIH’s Surgery and Bioengineering study section and participated in other grant review activities. His research has explored the mechanisms of vascular disease and their impact on healthcare outcomes. With 360 peer-reviewed publications and 65 books and book chapters to his name, Dr. Kent has contributed extensively to academic literature. His work has appeared in respected journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has also made significant contributions to the field editorially. Dr. Kent has served as editor or associate editor for the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, and Haimovici’s Vascular Surgery and has held editorial board positions for several peer-reviewed publications. As a speaker and educator, Craig Kent, MD, has been invited to more than 120 institutions globally as a Visiting Professor or Keynote Speaker. His leadership at UVA Health brought significant advancements. Revenue rose from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion, and the volume of care provided nearly doubled. Patient quality metrics reached a decade high, and during challenging periods—including the COVID-19 pandemic and national staffing shortages—employee satisfaction among over 18,000 staff members improved by more than 15 percent. Under his direction, UVA Health expanded across the state. The system acquired three hospitals and a physician group in Northern Virginia, invested in a five-hospital system in Eastern Virginia, and purchased a multi-specialty practice. Research funding at the School of Medicine grew by $60 million. Craig Kent also led the development of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, which is expected to open in 2026. He played a central role in philanthropic progress, helping UVA Health raise over $650 million and making a successful contribution to a billion-dollar capital campaign. While at Ohio State, he led a faculty body of 2100 and a clinical practice with more than 1200 physicians. His leadership yielded notable results, including increased NIH funding, the hiring of over 400 faculty members, a revised compensation system, $200 million in annual fundraising, and significant expansions in clinical and research facilities. During his time at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Kent doubled the size and surgical volume of the department. Under his guidance, its NIH ranking improved from 26th to 5th nationally. Earlier in his career, following the merger of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals, he led the combined vascular surgery programs at Columbia and Cornell, helping to build a nationally recognized academic program. Craig Kent has been honored throughout his career. He served as an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and held faculty positions at Cornell, Columbia, the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State, and the University of Virginia. His awards include induction into Alpha Omega Alpha at UCSF, the Fred and Ester Nusz Annual Achievement Award, the Harold Bengloff Award, and the E. J. Wylie Traveling Fellowship from the Society for Vascular Surgery. He has also been recognized through multiple Top Doctor and Best Doctor awards for his clinical work. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, San Francisco. His postdoctoral training includes surgical residency at UCSF, a vascular research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an endovascular fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, and executive leadership training at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has held medical licenses in Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Virginia. Dr. Kent remains active in the medical community through involvement with 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.