President and Chief Executive Officer, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, Gerald ‘J.P.’ Gallagher, has been named Illinois Health and Hospital Association Board Chair-Elect. Currently, Gallagher is leading the creation of a new system through the merger of NorthShore and Edward-Elmhurst Health. In Naperville, the affiliated Edward Hospital campus is located at 801 S. Washington Street. (PN Photo)
Gerald “J.P.” Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer, NorthShore – Edward Elmhurst Health, has been elected chair-elect of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association’s (IHA) 2022 Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is the policymaking body for the Association, representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois.
“It’s an honor to be entrusted with this opportunity to help advance the important work that our hospitals and health systems do every day to improve the wellbeing of our communities,” said Gallagher in a press release. “I am humbled to work side by side with partners who are so deeply connected to the unique needs of those we serve and share a passion for developing solutions that help broaden access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Illinoisans.”
“We’ve seen J.P. demonstrate exceptional leadership during his time as CEO at NorthShore,” said IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. “J.P. brings to the Board a celebrated career in healthcare, and his experience and insight will be key when making decisions that shape healthcare policy in Illinois.”
Gallagher took the helm of NorthShore in November 2017 after serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO), and was responsible for overall system operations, clinical quality results and financial performance. During his tenure, the system has combined strong operating performance with significant improvements in quality and patient safety, the use of technology to enhance patient engagement, and significant capital improvements across its campuses.
Currently, Gallagher is leading the creation of a new system through the merger of NorthShore and Edward-Elmhurst Health with a focus on providing vibrant, community-connected expert care, while serving as a best place to work, learn, practice medicine and receive care. The new system combines nine award-winning hospitals, 25,000 team members, and serves more than 1 million patients across the Chicagoland region.
Gallagher’s Prior Experience / Education
Prior to becoming COO, Gallagher served as president of Evanston Hospital, the flagship teaching hospital for the NorthShore system. NorthShore has been recognized as a “15 Top Major Teaching Hospital” and a “100 Top Hospital” by Fortune/IBM Watson Health for 22 years—more than any other healthcare system in the nation. Before joining NorthShore, Gallagher served in a variety of hospital leadership roles with Advocate Health Care (now Advocate Aurora Health) at its Advocate Christ Medical Center campus. He also completed his Administrative Fellowship at Advocate. Gallagher began his healthcare career as an analyst at The Lewin Group, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
Gallagher earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and an MBA at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship from the Kaiser Family Foundation. He is a member of the Healthcare Leadership Council, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Young Presidents Organization. He is an active member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and serves on the Board of Advisors for Catholic Charities of Chicago.
About NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health
NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 25,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights) Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) – all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence. Located in Naperville, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, provides for the mental health needs of area residents. For more information, visit NorthShore.org, SwedishCovenant.org, NCH.org and EEHealth.org.
About IHA
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association, with offices in Chicago, Naperville, Springfield, and Washington, D.C., advocates for Illinois’ more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems as they serve their patients and communities. IHA members provide a broad range of services—not just within their walls, but across the continuum of healthcare and in their communities. Reflecting the diversity of the state, IHA members consist of nonprofit, investor-owned and public hospitals in the following categories: community, safety net, rural, critical access, specialty, and teaching hospitals, including academic medical centers. For more information, see www.team-iha.org.
Release submitted by Keith Hartenberger, System Director, Public Relations, for Edward-Elmhurst Health.
