Aurora Health Care CEO and leadership

Jim is President and CEO of Advocate Aurora Health. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Health Care, the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest in the Midwest, since 2002. Named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare for six consecutive years beginning in 2011, Jim has been featured in local and national news publications as a leading voice on health care transformation and innovation; national health reform efforts; quality, cost and high reliability initiatives; patient safety; and health care providers’ commitment to serving their communities. Under his leadership, Advocate Health Care has been recognized as a national leader for its clinical successes, technological innovation, workplace culture and safety excellence. He is a former member and past chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Directors, the national organization that represents America’s hospitals and health systems. He also is a former chair of the AHA Section for Health Care Systems Governing Council and a member of Regional Policy Board 5. Jim is a member of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s World Business Chicago Board of Directors and is a past chair of Chicago United as well as the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) CEOs Against Cancer and the World Presidents Organization.

Experienced Nursing and Healthcare executive with a demonstrated history of experience and expertise in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Healthcare Consulting, Medical-Surgical, Healthcare Industry, Physician Relations, Cross Continuum leadership, Strategic Planning and Community Service.. Healthcare services professional graduated from West Chester University, University of Pennsylvania and University of the Sciences.. Served as President of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership in 2019. Currently serve on the board of the Milwaukee Urban League and recently elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association 2021-2023.

Dr. Lee Sacks has served as Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Physician Partners since its creation in 1995. Advocate Physician Partners is a care management and managed care contracting organization that includes over 4,000 physicians and serves 230,000 capitated and 700,000 PPO enrollees via clinically integrated contracts across Chicagoland. In 1997, he assumed the additional responsibilities of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Advocate Health Care. In these roles, he is responsible for clinical excellence, risk management / insurance, supply chain, clinical laboratories, research, medical education, managed care contracting and PHO operations. Prior to the formation of Advocate, Dr. Sacks served as Vice President of Lutheran General Health Plan and Vice President, Primary Care Development for Lutheran General HealthSystem. In these dual roles, he was responsible for strengthening Lutheran General HealthSystem's primary care infrastructure and the medical management of the Lutheran General Health Plan. Dr. Sacks is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. He completed his family practice residency at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, where he served as Chief Resident. He currently serves on the Metro Chicago board of the American Heart Association, is a governor of the Institute of Medicine Chicago and is Board Chairman of the Institute for Clinical Quality and Value.

Marie Dominguez is a Physician at United States Army, Chief Medical Officer at Aurora Health Care, and Hospital Commander/Chief Executive Officer at United States Army and is based in Fort Benning, Georgia. She has worked as Executive Officer, Army Medical Action Plan at United States Army; Chief Medical Officer/ Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at United States Army; and Clinic Commander at United States Army. Marie attended ACHE, UTSA - The University of Texas at San Antonio between 1984 and 1987, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between 1996 and 1997.

Board certified clinical cardiologist with leadership experience in population health based solutions including identification of health disparities, digital health strategy, media development, and public health engagement.

Abdulwahab Hritani is a Chief Cardiology fellow at Aurora Health Care and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has worked as Internal Medicine Resident at University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians Inc, Medical Student at Aleppo University, and Research Fellow at Emory University.

Carla LaFever is a Chief Clinical Services Officer at Aurora Health Care and is based in Greater Milwaukee Area. She has worked as Director Human Resources at Aurora Health Care and Manager Human Resources at Nemschoff. Carla studied at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point between 1992 and 1996, Random Lake High school between 1988 and 1992, and Silver Lake College between 2003 and 2005.

Chris Olson is a Chief Administrative Officer/CNE at Aurora Health Care. He studied at MICROSOFT CORP.

Cristy Garcia-Thomas is a Board Member at Chicago United; Chief Experience Officer, Aurora Health Care & President, Aurora Health Care Foundation at Aurora Health Care; and Board Member at WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC. and is based in Greater Milwaukee Area. She has worked as President at UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND and VP:Specialty Media Division at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Cristina works or has worked as Pres:Foundation/Chief Experience Ofcr at Aurora Health Care. She attended Harvard Business School, Northwestern University, and Kansas State University between 1988 and 1992.

I truly enjoy my new administrative role as the Chief Medical Officer for the Aurora Health Care, Greater Milwaukee South Market. This market consists of four hospitals, 600+and physicians, 375+ Advanced Practice Clinicians and multiple outpatient clinic sites. I am also honored to be a member of the Aurora Health Care, Medical Group board of directors.

As the past President of Aurora Medical Group - Lakeshore, I have learned quite a bit during my term managing our multi-specialty medical group consisting of approximately 160 providers and over 700 employees. I am blessed to have such good physician partners and senior administrators who have faith in my guidance and recommendations as we move forward in the future. I look forward to the new challenges in Health Care and with our affiliation with Aurora Health Care.

Jim is President and CEO of Advocate Aurora Health. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Health Care, the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest in the Midwest, since 2002. Named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare for six consecutive years beginning in 2011, Jim has been featured in local and national news publications as a leading voice on health care transformation and innovation; national health reform efforts; quality, cost and high reliability initiatives; patient safety; and health care providers’ commitment to serving their communities. Under his leadership, Advocate Health Care has been recognized as a national leader for its clinical successes, technological innovation, workplace culture and safety excellence. He is a former member and past chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Directors, the national organization that represents America’s hospitals and health systems. He also is a former chair of the AHA Section for Health Care Systems Governing Council and a member of Regional Policy Board 5. Jim is a member of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s World Business Chicago Board of Directors and is a past chair of Chicago United as well as the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) CEOs Against Cancer and the World Presidents Organization.

Board certified clinical cardiologist with leadership experience in population health based solutions including identification of health disparities, digital health strategy, media development, and public health engagement.