Meet some of the physician leaders shaping health care's future

As the guardians of clinical excellence, chief medical officers stand at the intersection of medicine and management, wielding influence that shapes the quality of care delivered across their health care organizations. From bustling corridors of community hospitals to the specialized wings of academic medical centers, CMOs are key in advancing patient safety, upholding rigorous quality standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. 

Beyond their titles, these physician leaders act as the crucial bridge between executive leadership and front-line medical staff, working to ensure that strategic goals align with patient care. By spearheading initiatives that enhance clinical outcomes, CMOs help organizations navigate the complexities of modern health care with precision and purpose.

For their ongoing work in health care, more than 180 of these physician leaders were recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as CMOs—and other positions—to know in 2025. This list was based on nominations from peers and editorial research. 

Among those named to the list were physician leaders of organizations that are members of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.

Shai Gavi, DO, chief medical officer at Atlantic Medical Group in Morristown, New Jersey, was among the honorees. Dr. Gavi was previously the system medical director of hospital medicine for Atlantic Health System and under his leadership, the hospitalist program successfully transitioned from five individual programs to a systemwide effort. He also continued to grow Atlantic Medical Group, adding 11 new physician practices throughout the state in 2023. 

Suja Mathew, MD, is the chief clinical officer at Atlantic Health System and she also made the list. Dr. Mathew oversees the quality, research, education and health equity missions of Atlantic Health System. She has also helped grow the system’s quality and patient safety initiatives and clinical trial enrollment. The Atlantic Center for Research has seen a 30% drop-in turnaround time for clinical trials while enrollment per trial rose 25%. 

Chief medical officer J. Edward Hartle, MD, leads the continued development of value-based care at Geisinger in Danville, Pennsylvania, to emphasize health and well-being. Dr. Hartle oversaw the inception of Geisinger’s 65 Forward program, which offers affordable, high-quality care along with fitness and social enrichment opportunities for the Medicare-age population. The program has 11 health centers, which have lowered hospitalization rates by 15% and emergency department visits by 40% for older adults.

Michael Cuffe, MD, the chief clinical officer at HCA Healthcare in Nashville, Tennessee, served as president and CEO of physician services for 10 years before being appointed chief clinical officer in 2022. Now Dr. Cuffe oversees clinical quality, nursing, care transformation and clinical informatics for HCA Healthcare. He also continues to lead physician services, which includes urgent care operations, graduate medical education, laboratory services and more than 13,000 employed and managed physicians. 

Leong Koh, MD, the CEO of Northwest Permanente in Portland, Oregon, also made the list. Dr. Koh has more than 25 years of experience in family medicine and has held key leadership roles, including vice president of quality, care experience and patient safety. He is a strong advocate for health equity and co-leads Kaiser Permanente’s national health equity workgroup while also serving on the board of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. Dr. Koh also remains dedicated to advancing physician well-being. 

Robert Hart, MD, chief physician executive at Ochsner Health and president of Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, helps to build relationships between varied stakeholders at the health system to promote a cohesive strategy among group practice, affiliated physicians and nonphysician providers. In 2017, Dr. Hart helped to launch Ochsner Health’s chief wellness officer role in response to the ongoing physician burnout rates.

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As the chief medical officer, Paul Casey, MD, is in charge of the design, implementation and oversight of quality, patient safety and performance improvement initiatives at Rush University Medical Center, which is part of the Rush University System for Health in Chicago. Dr. Casey also helps with the organization’s digital transformation efforts, running the pharmacy and lab operations, and managing the transfer center and care management teams. As an emergency medicine physician, he also previously served as interim president for Rush University Medical Group for two years. 

Jeremy Cauwels, MD, is the chief medical officer for Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which is the nation’s largest rural health system. Dr. Cauwels brings physicians’ interests and needs to the executive leadership team and board of trustees. He has also been a champion for creating a culture of safety through the systemwide safety initiative, Sanford Accountability for Excellence, which focuses on implementing solutions to challenges in clinical quality, patient safety, employee engagement and physician well-being. Dr. Cauwels has also been a strong voice for Sanford Health’s $350 million virtual care initiative and remains committed to bringing high-quality care closer to patients.

Under the leadership of Bill Isenberg, MD, PhD, chief medical officer at Sutter Health in Sacramento, California, the health system launched the high reliability training program Sutter Safe Care. He also applied safe care prevention tools to help physicians reduce harm to patients. In his role, Dr. Isenberg also guides Sutter Health’s Institute for Advancing Health Equity and oversees the use of clinical informatics to gather data to enhance patient care and the physician experience.

Todd Smith, MD, the chief physician executive at Sutter Health in Modesto, California, was also named to the list for his work spearheading clinical transformation. Dr. Smith drives initiatives to expand care capacity, including a $1 billion investment in 76 new ambulatory care sites and acute care expansions. He is also working to recruit hundreds of physicians and other health professionals. 

Cardiologist Maria Ansari, MD, is the CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group in San Francisco, as well as president and CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Ansari was previously physician-in-chief of Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, where she led innovations in primary and specialty care. She also played a key role in the city’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts has also held prominent leadership roles in cardiology. Additionally, Dr. Ansari is recognized for her transformational leadership and dedication to advancing health care quality and equity.

As a champion of equity and diversity, Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, president and executive medical director for The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, serves as an executive sponsor for diversity, equity and inclusion for all Permanente Medical Groups. Prior to his current role, Dr. Chukwumerjie spearheaded the “Care Without Delay” initiative, which helped to standardize practices and improve care delivery. He also actively contributes to the global medical community by supporting underserved populations in Nigeria through Faith Alive USA and Isuochi Progressive Union. 

Also on the list is Hans P. Cassagnol, MD, senior vice president and region chief medical officer for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Washington, recognized for his work leading clinical performance and quality assurance. While Dr. Cassagnol focuses on improving clinical outcomes and oversees safety initiatives, physician credentialing and performance evaluation, he also acts as a liaison between doctors, administration and community organizations. Prior to joining Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Dr. Cassagnol helped to implement an EHR system during the COVID-19 public health emergency and established successful residency programs that boosted recruitment and retention. 

Explore the full list of Becker’s Hospital Review’s more than 180 chief medical officers to know in 2025.