Andrew Agwunobi, who has served as UConn’s interim executive vice president for health affairs and chief executive officer of UConn Health for the past year, will be permanently appointed to the role effective Dec. 31.
He has served in an interim capacity since November 2014. A member of UConn’s senior leadership team, he will report directly to University President Susan Herbst, and also hold the title of chief executive officer of UConn Health.
“We couldn’t be happier that Andy has agreed to continue his outstanding leadership of UConn Health toward the ambitious future we’re charting,” Herbst said. “During the last year, his vision and steadfast leadership has already left an indelible mark on UConn Health, strengthening our academic medical center and its delivery of top-notch clinical care.
“UConn Health is a significant component of what makes the University of Connecticut one of the nation’s best research universities and the leader in clinical care in the state,” Herbst added. “Working together with Andy as one university, the opportunity has never been greater to take UConn to the next level of excellence in academics, research, and service to our community.”
Agwunobi, a pediatrician, is a nationally recognized leader in health care administration and performance improvement. His responsibilities include oversight of all operations on UConn Health’s Farmington campus and at clinical locations statewide – a $950 million enterprise employing more than 5,000 clinicians, faculty, and staff, and encompassing the University’s School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine.
“Dr. Agwunobi is an exceptional choice for this critical position, particularly at a time when the health care landscape is changing so rapidly,” said Sanford Cloud Jr., the Chair of UConn Health’s Board of Directors and member of the University’s Board of Trustees. “His diverse and wide-ranging experience over many years, combined with his outstanding leadership abilities, make him a tremendous asset for UConn Health.”
“I thank President Herbst for the opportunity to serve UConn Health during this exciting time of growth for our institution and to meet the future health care needs of the patients of Connecticut,” Agwunobi said. “Right now is a pivotal time of rapid change in health care delivery, and I look forward to leading UConn Health, along with our talented faculty and staff, to an even brighter future and offering the most fantastic patient experience possible.”
Before joining UConn Health, Agwunobi most recently served as a director with the Berkeley Research Group. He previously was chief executive of Providence Health Care, a five-hospital region of Providence Health & Services in Spokane, Wash.
In addition, Agwunobi has held the positions of president and chief executive officer of Grady Health System in Atlanta; president and CEO of Tenet South Fulton Hospital in East Point, Ga.; chief operating officer of 14-hospital St. Joseph Health System in California; and secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. He also once served as chief of the Main Pediatric Urgent-Care Department for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston.
Agwunobi received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
