Executive Director of University Hospital, Brain and Spine Hospital and Richard M. Ross Heart HospitalDennis Delisle became executive director of University Hospital in May 2020, of the Ross Heart Hospital in December 2021 and of the Brain and Spine Hospital in July 2023. He’s a nationally recognized health care executive, author and professor in operational excellence and culture transformation.
As executive director, he leads execution of clinical and operational strategies and performance aligned with broader health system goals. The three hospitals include a Level 1 Trauma Center, Level III NICU and a comprehensive transplant center. Dennis also oversees the development and activation a new $2 billion, 820-bed hospital tower opening in early 2026.
He’s an adjunct faculty member at the Ohio State Fisher College of Business and Jefferson University’s College of Population Health, where he teaches in health care quality, safety and operational excellence programs. He also serves on advisory committees for the MHA programs at Ohio State and The George Washington University. In 2018, Dennis founded one of the nation’s first Master of Science programs in operational excellence at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dennis is the author of three books – Lean Healthcare (2nd ed.), Executing Lean Improvements and Transformation and Your New EHR. In 2024, he received the prestigious Shingo Publication Award for Lean Healthcare, recognizing its impact on advancing organizational excellence.
Dennis holds certifications as an executive coach, Lean Master, Six Sigma Black Belt, Change Agent and PMI’s Project Management Professional. He’s a trained Baldrige Examiner and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Syracuse University, a Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University and a Doctor of Science in Health Systems Management from Tulane University.
Prior to joining Ohio State, Dennis served progressive leadership roles at Jefferson Health, a multi-hospital academic health system based in Philadelphia.