Richard R. Vath

Richard R. Vath, MD, joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2006 as the inaugural Quality & Patient Safety Medical Director for Our Lady of Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He became the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer in 2008. With increasing emphasis on physician performance and quality, Dr. Vath broadened his responsibilities to the health system serving as its Chief Clinical and Transformation Officer until he was appointed health system President and CEO in June 2019. He has thoughtfully assembled a high-performing leadership team to help carry out his vision for a truly integrated network of care delivery that is focused on improving patient experience and clinical quality while decreasing costs. Under Dr. Vath’s guidance, these leaders oversee all operations for the $3.6 billion, 1,700-licensed bed not-for-profit, integrated healthcare organization serving multiple regional markets in Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi.

During his vast tenure in healthcare, Dr. Vath built strong partnerships and coalitions for innovation throughout the health system’s regional markets and ministry, paving the way for the creation of Health Leaders Network in 2014. The clinically integrated network of employed and independent providers continues to advance quality performance. In a relatively short time, the progress has been remarkable. The network has successfully established performance-based contracts to improve overall health among at-risk populations. Early success for managing populations and controlling costs has become a trademark for the network, delivered by its more than 1,400 participating providers.

Dr. Vath and his senior leadership team continue to build a culture of excellence at all levels of the organization, fostering commitment among physicians and team members for the ministry work and Franciscan Core Values of Service, Reverence and Love for All of Life, Joyfulness of Spirit, Humility and Justice. The result is a positive work environment with stronger physician engagement and better patient outcomes.

After earning a medical degree in 1977 at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Dr. Vath completed an Internal Medicine residency and Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He successfully practiced as a Pulmonary Critical Care physician in Baton Rouge for 23 years before joining the health system.