Stephen K. Klasko Named to Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare of 2017

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Aug 21, 2017, 16:24 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, is named to Modern Healthcare's 2017 list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. According to Modern Healthcare's website, "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."

"When the board was searching for a new president and CEO to lead Jefferson, it was clear that Steve had the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and optimism necessary to succeed in today's healthcare and education environment," said Stephen P. Crane, Chair, Board of Trustees, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. "In a short time, he has led Jefferson through unprecedented growth and transformation which I credit to his exceptional business acumen and ability to connect with other visionary leaders. For these reasons, it's no surprise that Modern Healthcare sees him as one of the top 100 influencers in healthcare. "

Klasko leads the rapidly-expanding Jefferson Health comprising 10 hospitals (execution of the definitive agreement signed with Kennedy Health would bring the number to 13, pending regulatory approval), 35 outpatient and urgent care locations and a multitude of physician practices in the Philadelphia region. Jefferson serves 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency room patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually. In 2017, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ranked as #16 in the nation in US News & World Report's Honor Roll. He is president of the recently-combined comprehensive university, Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University).

An advocate for transformational change in health care, Klasko is author of 2016's "We Can Fix Healthcare in America: The Future Is Now," and editor in chief of the journal Healthcare Transformation.

At Jefferson, Klasko added innovation and philanthropy to the organization's core missions of clinical care and academic excellence. Under his leadership, the organization opened the Jefferson Accelerator Zone, hosts annual JAZ tank and Independence/Jefferson Health Hack competitions and received a $110 million gift from Sidney Kimmel, the largest in the University's history.

Klasko is preparing Jefferson for healthcare's inevitable consumer revolution by ensuring care is available wherever patients are through telehealth and regional expansion. He calls for a transformation in how medical students are selected and trained, emphasizing team-based problem solving and empathy over the MCAT's.

Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare is in its 16^th year. This year, readers nominated 6,800 individuals and cast 74,000 votes, accounting for 50 percent of the final list and rankings, while Modern Healthcare editors accounted for the remaining 50 percent.

SOURCE Thomas Jefferson University