Craig Kent

Craig Kent, MD, has devoted 30 years to health system leadership, focusing on improving patient access, raising the standard of care, and addressing the needs of patients with complex health issues. Through his work in academic medicine, research, and executive leadership, he has guided major institutions through growth and transformation while contributing to the broader development of healthcare leadership and education. Dr. Craig Kent began his leadership journey as Division Chief in Vascular Surgery at Columbia and Cornell, where he also led the Vascular Service line for New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He later served as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. At Ohio State University, he advanced to serve as Dean of the College of Medicine, Vice President for Health Sciences, and Co-Leader of the Health System. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO at the University of Virginia Health System. His leadership across these institutions has been recognized with his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. In addition to institutional roles, Craig Kent has served as President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, and Chair of the American Board of Surgery. These national appointments reflect his long-standing role in guiding the future of surgical education and clinical practice. The National Institutes of Health have continuously supported Dr. Kent’s research for over three decades. He chaired the Surgery and Bioengineering study section and has participated in various NIH review panels. His work spans molecular mechanisms of vascular disease and healthcare delivery systems, resulting in 360 peer-reviewed publications and 65 books and book chapters. His articles have been published in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has also held several editorial positions, including serving as editor or associate editor for the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, and Haimovici’s Vascular Surgery. He has contributed to numerous editorial boards, helping to maintain rigorous standards in medical publishing. As a speaker and educator, Craig Kent, MD, has served as a Visiting Professor or Keynote Speaker at more than 120 academic medical centers worldwide. At UVA Health, his tenure as CEO was marked by significant organizational growth. Revenue rose from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion, and clinical service volume nearly doubled. Patient care quality reached its highest levels in a decade, and staff satisfaction improved by more than 15% during a period marked by national staffing shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic.