Keynote speakers at this year's Health Care Business Alliance
Just days before the Health Care Business Alliance conference at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, I thought it would be interesting to look at this year's incredible line-up of keynote speakers. These gentlemen have reached the highest level of leadership in the health care industry and can offer unparalleled insight into the current and future state of the industry.
Wayne Smith
Chairman of the Board, President & CEO
Community Health Systems
Since Wayne Smith’s arrival in 1997, CHS has grown from $742 million in net revenue to over $10.8 billion in 2008 net revenue. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 28 percent— the strongest record of revenue growth in the industry.
For the last six years, Mr. Smith has been selected by the readers of Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare".
When Mr. Smith was recruited as Community Health Systems, Inc.'s president and CEO, he brought more than 20 years of healthcare industry experience to the company. He was named Chairman of the Board of Community Health Systems, Inc. in February 2001. Prior to joining CHS, Smith was with Humana, Inc. for 23 years where held a variety of senior management positions including president and Chief Operating Officer. He also was a member of Humana, Inc.'s Board of Directors from 1993 to mid-1996. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Praxair, Inc., Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, the Nashville Healthcare Council (2006 & 2007 Chairman) and the Federation of American Hospitals (2003 Chairman). Before joining Humana in 1973, Smith spent four years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps. Mr. Smith holds both a bachelor of science and Master of Science from Auburn University and a master of science in healthcare administration from Trinity University. He studied at the King's Fund College of Hospital Administration in London, England.
George Barrett
Chairman & CEO
Cardinal Health, Inc.
George S. Barrett is chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health, a Fortune 20 health care services company dedicated to improving the cost-effectiveness of health care.
Barrett has refocused the company on enabling customers to improve the business behind health care, so pharmacies, hospitals and ambulatory care sites can focus on patient care, while reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing profitability.
Barrett joined Cardinal Health in 2007 as vice chairman and chief executive officer of the company's Healthcare Supply Chain Services segment, where he was responsible for all of Cardinal Health's supply chain businesses, including pharmaceutical distribution, medical/surgical distribution, nuclear pharmacy services, Presource surgical kitting services and the Medicine Shoppe International retail pharmacy franchise operations.
Previously, Mr. Barrett served as CEO of Teva North America and Corporate Executive Vice President, Global Pharmaceutical Markets of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. He held the position of President and CEO of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA from March 1999 to December 2004. Prior to joining Teva Pharmaceuticals in 1999, Mr. Barrett was President and CEO of Diad Research, a technology start-up based at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. From 1991 to 1997, he held various positions with Alpharma Inc., serving as President of US Pharmaceuticals from 1994 to 1997. Previously, he held various positions with NMC Laboratories, serving as President from 1988 through its acquisition by Alpharma in 1990.
Mr. Barrett serves on a variety of boards including the board of directors of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, Board of Visitors at the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University and is a board member of Project Restore at John Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Healthcare Leadership Council and a past chairman of board of directors of the Generic Pharmaceutical Industry Association (GPhA). Mr. Barrett is also a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of Excellence in Global Business from New York University Stern School of Business.
Mr. Barrett received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in 1977 and a Masters in Business Administration from New York University in 1988.
Randall N. Spratt
Executive Vice President
Chief Technology Office & Chief Information Officer
McKesson Corporation
Randall N. (Randy) Spratt is Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer for McKesson Corporation. Spratt is responsible for all technology initiatives within the Corporation. Spratt has been with McKesson for more than 18 years, most recently as chief process officer for McKesson Provider Technologies (MPT), the company's medical software and services division based in Alpharetta, Georgia. He also managed MPT's Business Development, Information Technology, and Strategic Planning offices, as well as MPT's Technology Services business.
Prior to joining McKesson, Spratt held executive positions of increasing responsibility at the start-up Advanced Laboratory Systems (ALS), culminating with the role of Chief Operations Officer. ALS was acquired by HBOC in 1996, which in turn was acquired by McKesson in 1999, and Spratt took on responsibility for HBOC's laboratory systems business shortly thereafter. Following the acquisition of HBOC by McKesson in 1999, Spratt relocated to Georgia to become part of the reconstructed management team.
Spratt earned a bachelor of science degree in biology, with a minor in computer science, from the University of Utah.







