For the second year in a row, RUSH CEO Dr. Omar Lateef has been named to Modern Healthcare’s list of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in the United States.
Modern Healthcare — considered a "must-read" by many in the health care industry — describes the award as “a prestigious recognition program" that "acknowledges and honors individuals who are deemed by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare to be the most influential figures in the industry in terms of leadership and impact.”
“The past year had been one in which disrupters turned into major players and industry leaders raised their voices to effect change within their organizations and the broader community,” said Modern Healthcare editor Mary Ellen Podmolik. “Our 2022 ranking of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare recognizes these individuals who are transforming a major sector of the nation’s economy and are focused on improving care and payment models.”
Among the achievements highlighted in the nomination was how RUSH has received unprecedented acclaim under Lateef’s leadership, most notably for its outstanding multiyear response to the COVID-19 pandemic. RUSH’s early COVID-19 innovations set the standard for care nationally through the deployment of early testing, an intentional focus on critically ill patients from communities hardest hit by the pandemic, and clinical advancements of treatment protocols.
“Lateef was named to the top system-wide leadership role at Chicago-based Rush University System for Health in July,” Modern Healthcare wrote in detailing his selection. “He also remains president and CEO of the organization’s flagship Rush University Medical Center, titles he has held since 2019. Lateef gained national recognition for managing the COVID-19 response at the medical center, setting a standard for the use of early testing, new treatment protocols and a focus on the hardest-hit communities. The work led to a Medal of Honor award from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in April 2021. Lateef is also a nationally recognized leader in the measurement of healthcare quality and has published extensively on scientific and ethical issues in critical care medicine.”
Earlier this year, the publication honored Lateef as one of Modern Healthcare's 2022 Top 25 Diversity Leaders.
