Illinois Health and Hospital Association Names Gerald ‘J.P.’ Gallagher Board Chair
1/25/23 Gerald “J.P.” Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, has been elected Chair of the Board of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) for 2023. The IHA Board is the policymaking body for the Association, representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois. Gallagher’s one-year term began on Jan. 1, 2023. The first board meeting of the year will be held on Jan. 27.
“It’s an honor to be entrusted with this opportunity to partner with my colleagues across IHA to advocate for Illinois hospitals and health systems and highlight the impact we make every day for our patients and communities,” said Gallagher. “This is a time of significant pressure, but more important, significant opportunity for our health systems to collaborate. Together, with a shared focus on innovation and supporting our dedicated healthcare workers, we’re driving lasting solutions that reach deep into our communities and help make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Illinoisans.”
“It is my great pleasure to welcome J.P. as the new Chair of the IHA Board,” said A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President and CEO. “I have had the opportunity to work with J.P. while he served as the Chair-Elect, and have seen first-hand the impact his knowledge and expertise has had on shaping strong healthcare policy in Illinois. I look forward to working closely with J.P. in the coming year to help the hospital community navigate challenges and identify opportunities to continue providing quality, accessible and affordable healthcare in communities across the state.”
Gallagher most recently led the merger of NorthShore and Edward-Elmhurst Health with a focus on building a national model for vibrant, community-connected care. As the third largest health system in Illinois, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health serves 1.5 million patients across the greater Chicagoland metropolitan area with 25,000 team members across 300+ sites, including nine award-winning hospitals.
He 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 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.
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/Merative for 23 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 part of Advocate 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 fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Healthcare Leadership Council and the Young Presidents Organization. He also serves on the Business Leadership Council for Chicago Public Media, the Healthcare Advisory Roundtable at Madison Dearborn Partners, is active with the Illinois Chapter of JDRF, and is Assistant Scoutmaster with BSA Troup Five in Wilmette.