Lloyd H. Dean of Catholic Healthcare West to inspire graduates
at May 2011 ceremony
- Lloyd H. Dean will speak to UC Merced’s Class of 2011 at
commencement in May. - Dean is president and chief executive officer of Catholic
Healthcare West, the eighth largest hospital system in the nation. - Dean has repeatedly been chosen as one of Modern Healthcare
magazine’s 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare and one of the
Top 25 Minority Leaders in Healthcare.
MERCED, Calif. — The University of California, Merced, has
selected Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of the nation’s eighth
largest hospital system, to deliver the keynote address at
Commencement 2011 in May.
Dean has led Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) since 2000, helping
turn the organization into one of the highest performing systems in
the United States in just three years.
“Lloyd Dean is widely recognized in the community and in the
healthcare industry as a leader with a strategic vision and a
strong personal belief in public service,” UC Merced Chancellor
Steve Kang said. “He is an exemplary role model for our graduates
— the leaders of tomorrow.”
Improving the health of the San Joaquin Valley and the state has
been and will continue to be a major emphasis at UC Merced. The
newest UC campus is already playing an integral role in addressing
a variety of health-related issues from air and water quality
research to studying health disparities to preparing the best and
brightest students for rewarding careers in medicine in the
traditionally underserved San Joaquin Valley.
Dean shares a similar passion to providing excellent healthcare,
especially to the underserved. He played a major role in building
Merced’s newly opened Mercy Medical Center, a much-needed community resource.
Lloyd H. Dean, president and chief
executive officer of Catholic Healthcare West, will speak to UC
Merced’s Class of 2011 at commencement in May.
“The new facility is a precious resource for the citizens of
Merced and the region,” Kang said, noting that UC Merced students
are gaining hands-on experience volunteering in the Emergency
Services Department at the hospital.
Dean has been recognized for his leadership abilities by state
and national organizations — he was named one of Modern
Healthcare magazine’s 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare for
2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; and one of the Top 25 Minority Leaders
in Healthcare for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. He also has been
honored for his public service by the Bay Area chapter of the 100
Black Men of America, Inc.
In 2004, Dean was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the
California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth. He also chairs
the Bay Area Council’s Healthcare Committee, sits on the boards of
Wells Fargo & Company and Mercy Housing Inc. and is the
chair-elect of the Catholic Health Association of the U.S. He
received the Partners in Care 2007 Mathies Award for Vision and
Excellence in Healthcare Leadership.
CHW operates 41 acute-care hospitals in California, Arizona and
Nevada, as well as medical clinics, home health organizations,
health plans and medical practice. The company has $11 billion in
assets and employs about 55,000 staff and 10,000 physicians.
Every year, the Chancellor’s Cabinet is responsible for
selecting and inviting the commencement keynote speaker. In
addition, a graduation committee of students meets to plan
end-of-the year activities and to select the class gift and student speaker.
Previous Commencement Speakers
Previous commencement speakers have included:
- 2010 — Broadcast Journalist Lester Holt
- 2009 — First Lady Michelle Obama
- 2008 — Syndicated Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr.
- 2007 — Lt. Gov. John Garamendi
- 2006 — Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey
