Craig Kent, MD, has devoted more than three decades to advancing health system leadership, expanding access to care, and developing lifesaving treatments for patients with complex medical conditions. Throughout his career, he has emphasized organizational improvement and the delivery of high-quality care while also making significant contributions to research and medical education. His leadership has left a transformative imprint on every institution he has served, shaping both clinical practice and academic medicine on a national scale.
Early in his career, Dr. Kent established his reputation as an outstanding vascular surgeon and academic leader. At Columbia and Cornell, where he served as Division Chief of Vascular Surgery and directed the Vascular Service line at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, he set the clinical and academic direction for one of the largest and most highly regarded programs in the nation. His leadership during this period created institutional changes that elevated both patient care and surgical education. He later became Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he doubled the size and volume of the department and helped move its NIH research ranking from 26th to 5th nationally. His ability to recruit faculty, expand programs, and secure funding became a hallmark of his career.
Dr. Craig Kent’s trajectory then took him to Ohio State University, where he served as Dean of the College of Medicine, Vice President of Health Sciences, and eventually Co-Health System Leader. In these roles, he guided one of the nation’s largest academic health centers through a period of significant growth. Under his leadership, the College of Medicine recruited 400 new faculty members, developed a revised compensation model, and substantially increased NIH research funding. Annual philanthropic support rose by $200 million, and the clinical enterprise expanded dramatically. His impact at Ohio State reflected his ability to align academic, research, and clinical missions while fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Most recently, Dr. Kent served as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of UVA Health. There, he oversaw an integrated academic health system consisting of six hospitals, a school of medicine, a school of nursing, and two physician groups. Over his five-plus years at the helm, UVA Health experienced remarkable growth. Annual revenue nearly doubled from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion, while patient access and clinical services also expanded significantly. Quality metrics reached their highest levels in a decade, even during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, despite national workforce shortages, employee satisfaction improved by more than 15 percent among over 18,000 staff members. His tenure was also marked by strategic statewide expansion, including the acquisition of hospitals and physician groups in Northern and Eastern Virginia, as well as the purchase of an extensive multi-specialty practice. These moves solidified UVA Health as one of the region’s leading health systems.
In addition to operational growth, Dr. Kent emphasized research and innovation. Funding at the UVA School of Medicine increased by $60 million, and he championed the establishment of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, scheduled to open in 2026, which will drive translational research and therapeutic discovery. His efforts in philanthropy were equally impressive; he tripled giving to UVA Health and successfully guided the institution toward achieving its billion-dollar campaign goal, with more than $650 million raised for the health system.
Beyond his institutional leadership, Dr. Kent has been an influential figure in national organizations that shape the future of surgery and healthcare leadership. He has served as President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, and Chair of the American Board of Surgery. His research accomplishments earned him induction into the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the field. For more than 30 years, his work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, with a focus on molecular mechanisms of vascular disease and healthcare outcomes. He has chaired NIH study sections and has been an active participant in the broader scientific community.
Dr. Kent is also a prolific author and editor. He has published 360 peer-reviewed articles and contributed 65 books and book chapters, covering topics from vascular disease and surgical education to healthcare management and leadership. His work has appeared in top medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has also held editorial roles for the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, and Haimovici’s Vascular Surgery, in addition to serving on the boards of numerous journals.
Recognized internationally as a thought leader, Dr. Kent has been invited to deliver keynote addresses and visiting professorships at more than 120 academic medical institutions worldwide. His lectures reflect not only his deep expertise in vascular surgery but also his insights into leadership, organizational change, and the future of academic medicine.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Craig Kent has received numerous awards and honors. He has held professorships at Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Virginia, reflecting the breadth of his academic influence. His many recognitions include election to Alpha Omega Alpha at UCSF, the Fred and Ester Nusz Achievement Award, the Harold Bengloff Award for excellence in teaching, and the E. J. Wylie Traveling Fellowship from the Society of Vascular Surgery. He has also been consistently recognized with Top Doctor and Best Doctor awards for his clinical excellence.
Dr. Kent’s foundation as a leader was built on rigorous education and training. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his surgical residency at UCSF, followed by a vascular surgery research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an endovascular fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He also completed leadership training at the Harvard School of Public Health, preparing him for the significant executive roles he would later assume. Licensed in multiple states throughout his career, he has remained a dedicated practitioner as well as an accomplished leader.
Through his work in leadership, research, clinical care, and education, Craig Kent, MD, has left an indelible mark on American healthcare. His career reflects a rare blend of scientific accomplishment, clinical excellence, and visionary leadership, and his influence continues to shape institutions, physicians, and patients alike.