Northwell Health CEO Shares Lessons on Handling Uncertainty
New CEO John D'Angelo leverages his emergency medicine background to lead Northwell Health through significant transitions and digital transformation.
John D'Angelo, CEO of Northwell Health, likened his initial months in the role to managing a shift in the busy emergency room where he previously worked. The health system is currently navigating a major digital transformation and a recent acquisition.
D'Angelo oversees one of North America's largest non-profit health systems, which has substantially grown following an acquisition. The organization, employing over 100,000 people, is simultaneously undertaking a significant digital overhaul, including a new electronic health record system and AI integrations.
"We had these three major things going on, and a lot of things could go right or wrong," D'Angelo stated. "That’s why they picked an ER doc as CEO," he joked, referring to the complex situation.
D'Angelo shared four leadership principles drawn from his experience: make decisions with incomplete data, focus on key performance indicators over distractions, triage responsibilities like patients in an ER, and build commitment by connecting employees to the organization's purpose.