UCHealth Announces Will Cook to be next President and CEO of University of Colorado Hospital

He will advance the patient care, innovation and research at UCH, the only academic medical center in Colorado.
July 23, 2015

Contact: Jessica Berry; 720-848-5878; [email protected]

Aurora, Colo. – University of Colorado Health (UCHealth) is excited to announce Will Cook as the next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of University of Colorado Hospital.

As president and CEO, he will advance the patient care, innovation and research at UCH, the only academic medical center in Colorado. In addition to focusing on providing the very best care for patients, Cook expects to work very closely with the University of Colorado School of Medicine to build on their world-renowned research and increase the funding available for clinical trials and researchers.

“It’s an honor to be named President and CEO for one of the leading hospitals in the nation, let alone the state. University of Colorado Hospital is known for its remarkable capabilities in healthcare and is the ‘go-to’ hospital for complex surgeries and advanced care in the region,” said Cook. “I’m excited to partner with the School of Medicine and its nationally acclaimed faculty physicians to continue to be on the cutting edge of patient care and research.”

Will Cook was named president and CEO of University of Colorado Hospital.

Cook brings 20 years of academic healthcare leadership and experience to his new role with UCH.

Cook comes to UCH from UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), an academic medical center with 21 hospitals, 3,400 employed physicians and 60,000 employees. In his most recent role, Will served as senior vice president of UPMC’s Health Services Division, chief operating officer of Physician Services, and president of UPMC Mercy.

Will also spent five years at Johns Hopkins Health System, serving in leadership roles including leading the operations for the Johns Hopkins International Medical Center in Singapore and as administrator for Emergency Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

“Will is going to be a strong asset to University of Colorado Hospital and to our patients,” said Elizabeth Concordia, president and CEO of UCHealth.  “The knowledge and experience he brings ensures UCH will remain a national leader in health care. Will comes from an academic medical center environment and recognizes that research and innovation ensures patients receive the most advanced care and nation-leading outcomes.”

John Harney served as UCH president and CEO from 2012 until he retired last month. Cook will begin his new role in September 2015.


About University of Colorado Hospital

University of Colorado Hospital is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading academic medical center.  UCH is best known as an innovator in patient care and often as one of the first hospitals to bring new medicine to the patients’ bedside.  University HealthSystem Consortium named UCH the #1 Academic Medical Center in quality in the nation in both 2011 and 2012, and U.S. News & World Report named University of Colorado Hospital the best hospital in Colorado in 2012, 2013 and 2014.  UCH is one of five Colorado hospitals that make up University of Colorado Health.  The hospital’s physicians are affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, part of the University of Colorado system.  Based on the expansive Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO, the hospital is where patient care, research and education converge to establish the future of health care delivery.

About UCHealth

University of Colorado Health is a Front Range health system that delivers the highest quality patient care with the highest quality patient experience.  University of Colorado Health combines Memorial Hospital, Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, Colorado Health Medical Group, and University of Colorado Hospital into an organization dedicated to health and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. UCHealth partners with the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine and numerous community organizations to provide care. Separately, these institutions can continue providing superior care to patients and service to the communities they serve. Together, they push the boundaries of medicine, attracting more research funding, hosting more clinical trials and improving health through innovation.