FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — America’s Essential Hospitals President and CEO Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, has announced he will retire at the end of 2025, closing out an accomplished career spanning four decades in public service, hospital administration, and health policy and advocacy.
Siegel has led the association of more than 300 mission-driven hospitals since October 2010. During his tenure, the association has more than doubled in size, reached new heights in its advocacy for the nation’s health care safety net, and led efforts nationally to achieve equity in health care access and quality.
Siegel notified the America’s Essential Hospitals board of directors last month of his intention to retire.
“Bruce has elevated our association to the next level, ensuring it remains the foremost champion for hospitals that care for the many patients who face social and financial barriers to health care access,” said Jacob Cintron, MAcc, MBA, the association’s board chair and president and CEO of University Medical Center of El Paso, in Texas. “He’ll be sorely missed, but he leaves America’s Essential Hospitals in a stronger position to meet the next challenges and opportunities for our safety net hospitals.”
“Serving our member hospitals and health systems has been my privilege and the capstone of my career,” Siegel said. “But as I approach my 65th birthday, the time is right to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders and devote more time to my family and the next chapter.”
At America’s Essential Hospitals, Siegel has presided over numerous achievements on behalf of essential hospitals and patients. He has guided more than a decade of association advocacy to stop devastating cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding. Siegel led efforts to preserve the 340B Drug Pricing Program, secure $15 billion in targeted safety net hospital funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, and push successfully to close Medicaid payment gaps. He also led the association’s successful rebranding in 2013.
Siegel leaves his mark on association work to eliminate disparities in care. He oversaw a successful campaign to incorporate social risk factors for the first time into federal value-based purchasing programs, and he has driven a focus on equity in the association’s education, research, and governance. “I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished to help our hospitals improve care for our most vulnerable populations and to model inclusion, as a member-driven association,” Siegel said.
After completing a preventive medicine residency in the late 1980s and earning a master of public health, Siegel entered public service with the New Jersey Department of Health as a senior public health physician. He ascended through a series of increasingly responsible roles to become the state’s commissioner of health in October 1992.
In February 1994, Siegel transitioned to the world of hospital administration, taking the reins as president of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (now NYC Health+Hospitals), the nation’s largest municipal health system. He also served as president and CEO of Tampa General Healthcare (now Tampa General Hospital), in Florida, from July 1996 to February 2000.
Siegel left Tampa General to enter academia, including eight years in various positions with the George Washington (GW) University School of Public Health and Health Services, in Washington, D.C., now called the Milken Institute School of Public Health. He ended his career at GW in September 2010, as director of the school’s Center for Health Care Quality.
# # #
About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to equitable, high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America’s Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health, health care access, and equity. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health and health equity, and other services. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value.
Contact:
Emily Schweich
media@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0119
Author