Fred Brown

Fred L. Brown’s healthcare career spans 50 years. A noted advocate for America’s hospitals and healthcare organizations, he has served in many prominent leadership roles. He currently serves as Chairman of Fred L. Brown & Associates LLC a healthcare consulting company. He also serves as Chair of the Alumni Council of Regents for Northwestern University and on the Board of Governors of the Northwestern University Libraries. He was Past Chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Joint Commission, Past Chairman of the National Kidney Foundation and Past Chairman of the American Hospital Association.

Brown emphasizes the important role healthcare organizations play in society. He is noted for his expertise in issues related to healthcare integration, governance, operations, public policy, diversity, spiritual care, community health and social Responsibility.

From 1993 to 1998, Brown served as one of the principal architects and founding President and Chief Executive Officer of BJC HealthCare in St. Louis. BJC was created by the complex and innovative mergers of five St Louis healthcare organization. Under Brown’s leadership BJC developed a comprehensive healthcare network featuring 14 acute care hospitals, 7 long-term care facilities, 200 care sites, 30,000 caregivers and physicians, and health plans covering more than 200,000.

Brown put BJC in the national spotlight for his work in creating a healthcare delivery and financing system featuring a unique mix of community, rural and academic services. He served as BJC’s Vice Chairman from 1999-2000 during his tenure as Chair of the American Hospital Association.

Earlier in his career, Brown gained key administrative experience at posts in Indianapolis and Chicago before becoming President of the 708-bed Christian Hospital Northeast-Northwest in St. Louis in 1982. At Christian he transitioned the single Christian Hospital organization into a prototype integrated healthcare system featuring seven hospitals, six nursing homes and outpatient care sites. In 1993, he negotiated the agreement that led to Christian Health System merging with others to form BJC Healthcare.

On a national basis, Brown provides strategic counsel to several prominent organizations. He serves as a member of the boards of directors of several publicly traded and private companies and many health care organizations. He also has served as a visiting professor and executive-in-residence at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. He currently serves as Professorial Lecturer of Health Policy Management at The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and Health Services. He also serves as Co-Chairman for the Milken Institute School of Public Health Campaign for the George Washington University.

Brown is past President of the Washington University Medical Center, a past Governor and Regent of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and past Chairman for the American Protestant Health Association, the Missouri Hospital Association, the Hospital Association of St. Louis and the Chancellor’s Council of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In 1999, he was a member of President Clinton’s Senior Advisors Council on Y2K.

Brown currently serves and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of several private equity-backed healthcare companies, including NextCare Urgent Care, Inc. (Enhanced Equity Partners/Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending). He also has served as a past member of Sentient Medical Systems, Inc. (Dubin Clark & Company), Supplemental Health Care, Inc. (Dauphin Capital et al), Restorix Health, Inc. (Sverica International), Take Care, Inc. (now a division of Walgreens) (Beecken Petty, O’Keefe & Co.), among others. Brown also serves on the Executive Advisory Board of Camden Partners and the Board of Advisors of Nexus Health Capital.

Brown has received numerous awards and honors from organizations such as the American Hospital Association, the American Academy of Medical Administrators, the American College of Chaplains, the American College of Healthcare Executives, Binai Brith, the Boy Scouts, The George Washington University, the Missouri Hospital Association, Sigma Chi Fraternity, the United Way, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, National Kidney Foundation and VHA, Inc. He was inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame in 2014.

A native of West Virginia, he holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, an MBA degree from The George Washington University and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.