David Lubarsky recognized as one of the '100 Most Influential People' in health care

David Lubarsky has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” for 2022. 

Lubarsky, ranked No. 51, is the CEO of UC Davis Health and vice chancellor of human health sciences. The complete ranking can be found in the Dec. 5 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine, and profiles of all the honorees are available online. (A digital subscription is required to view the online profiles.)

The recognition is one of the industry’s highest honors. It spotlights leaders who are creating the greatest impact in the health care landscape. Modern Healthcare is an industry leader in business news, issues and trends in health care. The honorees were chosen by industry peers and Modern Healthcare senior editors and the recognitions were announced Dec. 3. 

Lubarsky started in his position in June 2018, overseeing an integrated academic health system that serves more than 6 million people in 33 counties across 65,000 square miles in Northern California. 

UC Davis Health includes more than 17,000 employees, comprising over 1,000 students, 1,000 trainees, 1,300 faculty members and a large regional primary care network. It provides 1.5 million outpatient visits every year and has an annual budget of $4.25 billion. It includes multiple top 50-ranked entities – the UC Davis School of Medicine, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis Medical Center, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, and a regional primary care delivery network.

Since his arrival, Lubarsky has recommitted the organization to expanding care for the underserved and caring for Medi-Cal patients, people experiencing homelessness, and others with few resources, while creating a sustainable financial model with a focus on patient-centered care and innovative digital health.

Lubarsky said, “On behalf of UC Davis Health, I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Modern Healthcare. It is true that such distinctions are always much more representative of team efforts than they are of any one person’s work. Our teams throughout UC Davis Health are game-changers, and they are innovating in ways that will enhance the future of health care in our region for patients and communities for decades to come. I’m truly proud to lead such a unique organization.” 

Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor of Modern Healthcare, said, “The past year had been one in which disrupters turned into major players and industry leaders raised their voices to effect change within their organizations and the broader community. Our 2022 ranking of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare recognizes these individuals who are transforming a major sector of the nation’s economy and are focused on improving care and payment models.” 

I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Modern Healthcare – it is true that such distinctions are always much more representative of team efforts than they are of any one person’s work.” —David Lubarsky, CEO of UC Davis Health and vice chancellor for human health sciences.

‘Complete, not compete’

Lubarsky espouses an organizational philosophy that UC Davis Health will always “complete, not compete” with other Sacramento-area organizations. The goal is to improve access and patient care throughout the region, not just at UC Davis Health. Lubarsky also established a partnership with Sacramento County Health Services to develop a next-generation full-service Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to expand primary and specialty care services for underserved communities. 

Recent research publications of his include a New England Journal of Medicine article on how UC Davis Health is positioning itself as a collaborative partner that expands patient care throughout Northern California. 

In 2020, UC Davis Health formally launched its Anchor Institution Mission for community health. The goal is to leverage its economic power and human and intellectual resources to increase the economic vitality of surrounding communities, thereby improving the health, welfare and well-being of residents. 

Other recent UC Davis Health distinctions include:

• In 2022, the research firm Monigle ranked UC Davis Health as the #4 brand nationally (according to patients and consumers) among 201 health care organizations. Monigle also ranked the health system #3 nationally as “most committed to improving diversity and inclusion” and #1 in the “Top 5 new entrants in 2022” in health care.

• This year, U.S. News & World Report once again ranked UC Davis Medical Center as #1 in Sacramento – for the 11th year in a row – and #6 in California with “high performing” ratings (the highest possible) in 13 key specialties, and national rankings in nine adult specialties and five pediatric specialties. 

• The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research ranking placed UC Davis among the nation’s leading medical schools for NIH funding. It ranked the school 33rd nationally, three spots above its 2020 ranking. Overall, UC Davis is one of the few universities nationwide to receive more than $1 billion in annual research funding. 

• Forbes recently named UC Davis Health as the top-ranked employer in the “health care and social” sector and the 12th overall best employer in California. 

• Earlier this year, UC Davis Health received a perfect score of 100 from The Human Rights Campaign as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equity Leader.

Lubarsky has also been recognized by the Sacramento Business Journal as a “Most Admired CEO” in 2021 and named one of America’s “100 Academic Medical Center CEOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.