Northwell Health CEO Shares Lessons on Handling Uncertainty

John D'Angelo, CEO of Northwell Health, a New York-based health system, has shared insights on managing stress and uncertainty in leadership. D'Angelo, who has a background as an emergency medicine physician, draws parallels between the complexities of his current role and his experiences in the ER.

D'Angelo took the helm at Northwell Health in October during a period of significant transition for the organization. The health system had recently completed the acquisition of Nuvance Health, forming a combined entity with 28 hospitals, over 100,000 employees, and substantial operating revenue. Concurrently, D'Angelo has been focused on rebuilding his leadership team and driving a major digital transformation, including the implementation of a new electronic health record platform and AI integrations.

He likens his position to that of an ER doctor, where decisions often must be made quickly with limited information. "We had these three major things going on, and a lot of things could go right or wrong," D'Angelo said, referring to the complex situation. "That's why they picked an ER doc as CEO."

D'Angelo emphasizes decision-making with incomplete data. His ER background taught him to prioritize the most critical, high-impact unknowns and to act on his best judgment even when complete information is unavailable. He also advises leaders to focus on an organization's "vital signs"—key indicators predicting success—rather than getting caught up in noise and distractions. D'Angelo stresses the importance of flexibility and being willing to pivot if outcomes are not as expected.