Joseph Swedish
Over a career spanning 35 years, Joseph R. Swedish has built a legacy as an innovator in diversity and inclusion, and of dynamic leadership and service excellence. He focuses his leadership on transforming health care delivery through improved clinical and business processes and expanding access to the growing population of underinsured patients.
Following his arrival at Trinity Health in 2005, Mr. Swedish sent a clear message that diversity would be a top priority by appointing himself Chief Diversity Officer. He then assembled a leadership team to create a strategy and work plan, sanctioned by senior leadership and the Board, and advanced diversity and inclusion initiatives across Trinity Health's national network of 45 hospitals.
Other achievements in diversity at Trinity Health include launching an initiative to collect patient demographic data in order to ensure equity in care; tying executive compensation to accomplishment of diversity objectives; and developing system-wide training on diversity, including online modules and a daylong seminar for senior leadership.
A dynamic speaker, Mr. Swedish was a featured presenter on the cultural imperative of diversity leadership at the American College of Healthcare Executives' annual conference and the Catholic Health Association's Ethics Conference, and other meetings. His columns on the subject have appeared in Modern Healthcare, Health Progress, Healthcare Executive and Diversity Executive magazine.
Mr. Swedish currently serves the American Hospital Association as Chairman for the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, as a member of the Special Advisory Group on Improving Hospital Care for Minorities; and the Non-profit System CEO group examining health care tax exempt status.
Mr. Swedish was chosen one of Modern Healthcare's "Top 100 Most Powerful Leaders in Healthcare" in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master's degree in health administration from Duke University.
