Saint Alphonsus President and CEO Named One of the Nation's Most Influential Clinical Executives

Modern Healthcare Magazine Recognizes Odette Bolano

Saint Alphonsus President and CEO Odette Bolano, FACHE, MHA, BSN has been named as one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in the country by Modern Healthcare Magazine.

The award acknowledges clinicians working in the healthcare industry who are deemed by their peers and an expert panel to be the most influential in terms of demonstrating leadership and impact. Clinical leadership is needed now, more than ever, to champion evidence-based approaches that will mitigate the impact of the pandemic and address the longstanding health inequities that have become even clearer as a result of the crisis.

“We are extremely proud of this honor given to Odette Bolano, who has demonstrated tremendous leadership, determination and has maintained a single focus on attaining the quality care in all our hospitals and clinics during a difficult time,” said Kent Bailey, Chairman of the Saint Alphonsus Health System Board. “She has made the tough decisions necessary to guide Saint Alphonsus through a challenging environment, and done so with a spirit of grace, compassion and courage. I’m confident that our Health System will come through the pandemic stronger than ever and a more valued healthcare partner in the communities we serve in Idaho and Oregon."

This is the first time a senior level clinical executive has been selected for this prestigious recognition from Idaho. Bolano has served as President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus since September 2018. Immediately prior to this role, she served for three years as President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

As President and CEO, Bolano is widely known as a courageous, bold leader who has instilled innovation and cultural change throughout the 582-bed, four-hospital health system. Early on, and to date, Bolano has led with a focus on Trust and Transparency; Visibility; Communication; Building Relationships; Establishing a New Culture; and Acceleration of the Priority Strategic Aims (PSAs). The health system employs nearly 6,000 colleagues in Idaho and Oregon. In addition, she oversees the strategic direction for Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with nearly 520 primary and specialty care providers over 73 clinics; and the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a clinically integrated network with over 2,100 employed and independent providers.

In early February under Odette’s leadership, an Incident Command structure, based on the FEMA Incident Command model, was immediately instituted to support the necessary operational, clinical and strategic issues necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Following nearly four months of disruption and rapid change, she also led the development of a system-wide Recovery Team dedicated to the ramp up of services to restore the health system to healthy operations and financial viability.

Bolano was recognized for what Modern Healthcare characterized as “actions taken in the past year to help the organization achieve or exceed financial, operational and clinical goals,” as well as for taking “steps to establish or contribute to a culture of innovation and transformation.”

“Healthcare organizations are utilizing their greatest assets as they transform: their former front-line clinicians. Former and practicing physicians and nurses have taken the helms of healthcare providers across the country and improved quality of care, patient satisfaction and margins,” said Aurora Aguilar, editor of Modern Healthcare.

Others recognized by Modern Healthcare this year include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, and Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General.

The complete list of 2020’s Most Influential Clinical Executives is featured in the June 15 edition of Modern Healthcare Magazine and online.