Voices of U of U Health
Building a Bold Future: University of Utah Health’s Vision for 2030 and Beyond
By Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD
As I continue meeting with people across campus and in our community, one thing is clear: University of Utah Health is an organization powered by people, purpose, and potential.
This is a pivotal moment in our history. We are entering what I believe is an inflection point—a time of tremendous opportunity, but also of complex challenges. With Utah’s population projected to grow by over 500,000 in the next decade and our economy surging ahead, the demand for high-quality, accessible, and integrated health care is accelerating.
To meet that demand, we are transforming.
From Medical Center to Health System
U of U Health is evolving from a single-site academic medical center into an interconnected, high-performing health system with a regional network footprint.
New facilities like the future University of Utah Hospital and Health Campus in West Valley and Huntsman Cancer Institute’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center in Vineyard are expanding our reach. New partnerships with systems like Intermountain Health, CommonSpirit, and HCA are enhancing patient access to U of U Health expertise. And new leadership roles—from clinical affairs to system operations to financial stewardship—are giving us the structure to manage growth while remaining agile and multi-mission-focused.
Strategic Domains for Impact
The bold new vision for U of U Health is rooted in shared purpose, systemwide collaboration, and a commitment to societal impact. Our strategy focuses on five key domains that align with the university-wide Impact 2030 strategy:
- Alignment Across Missions: Breaking down silos to create a cohesive, high-performing system.
- People and Community: Prioritizing workforce wellness, engagement, and development.
- Access, Experience, and Quality: Expanding care delivery and improving patient and learner experiences.
- Innovation, Research, and Education: Advancing discovery and training the next generation of health care professionals and scientists.
- Mission-Driven Financial Strategy: Ensuring sustainable growth through integrated financial planning.
These pillars are not abstract ideals. They are actionable goals supported by new leadership roles. I’m grateful to the following leaders for their willingness to serve in these systemwide capacities:
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Sam Finlayson, MD, MPH, MBA, who has been serving as interim dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, will serve as System Chief Clinical Officer.
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Dan Lundergan, MHA, will serve as System Chief Operating Officer while continuing his role as CEO of Hospitals & Clinics.
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Charlton Park, MBA, will serve as System Chief Financial and Analytics Officer.
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Erica Bisson, MD, MPH, will serve as System Chief Medical Officer.
Together, with other leaders and critical feedback from our teams, this group will help to guide our system transformation.
Putting People First
At its heart, this evolution is about people—our patients, students, those impacted by our discoveries, and the team that works at U of U Health.
It’s important to acknowledge and understand the pressures we face. Cuts to federal research funding, workplace well-being, and increasing patient demand all weigh heavily. As we navigate these challenges, our shared purpose—to improve the health and well-being of our communities—can serve as our north star.
Equally important is recognizing that we all respond to change in different ways. There can be a variety of emotions about both the unknown and new possibilities. Our leadership team is committed to building a culture where everyone feels safe to speak up, communication is open and honest, and all voices are valued in decision-making.
We recently launched the Made Better by You campaign to celebrate the human stories behind our work. People like “Hot Rod” Thomas, who has been keeping hospital rooms spick and span for more than three decades, and scientists like TingTing Hong, MD, PhD, whose research could hold the key to reversing heart failure.
These are some of the stories that—and people who—define us as we build a future-ready academic health system.
Turning Vision into Action
Every member of the U of U Health community has an essential role to play in our quest to become a fully integrated health system. As our state grows and the world looks to us for leadership, we’ll rise to meet the moment—united and driven by purpose. For the third year in a row, Utah ranks Best State in America. And for more than a decade, U of U Health has served as the state's #1 health system, providing access to leading-edge care, innovation, and next-generation training to the Mountain West and beyond.
Despite the challenges on the horizon, an exciting future is ahead—a future we will build together.
