2023 Leader of Today Awardee
Erik G. Wexler
Erik G. Wexler is president and chief operating officer for Providence, leading the Catholic not-for-profit health system’s operations across seven western states.
Mr. Wexler originally came to Providence in May 2016 as regional chief executive for Southern California and worked closely with Providence leadership as it joined with St. Joseph Health to form a new, combined family of organizations. He then served as President of Operations & Strategy for Providence, leading the southern footprint in California, Texas and New Mexico.
In his current role, he is responsible for the operational oversight and strategy for Providence, including 52 hospitals, more than 900 clinics and 120,000 caregivers in Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington state. Mr. Wexler is involved in the overall strategic direction and execution of care transformation, while overseeing a large portfolio of services and partnerships.
Formerly the chief executive officer for Tenet Healthcare’s Northeast Region, Mr. Wexler was drawn
to Providence primarily because of its mission to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. Mr. Wexler spent five years with Tenet, most recently overseeing operations in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois. He also worked for Vanguard Health Systems, and prior to that was senior vice president of LifeBridge Health System in Baltimore.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s in business administration from the University of Hartford in Connecticut and holds an honorary doctorate from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Mr. Wexler sits on the boards of the California Hospital Association, CHAPAC, and the Racial Justice Roundtable in Orange County, Calif. He is also a member of the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 9.