Craig Kent
Professional Leader in Health Care
Craig Kent, MD, has dedicated his 30-year career to health system leadership, focusing on improving patient access, raising clinical care standards, and providing treatment to individuals with the most complex medical needs. Through his service in academic medicine, research, and executive roles, he has consistently worked to strengthen institutions and support the development of future healthcare leaders.
Dr. Craig Kent began his leadership path as Division Chief in Vascular Surgery at Columbia and Cornell, where he also oversaw the Vascular Service line for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. His leadership experience continued as Chair of the Department of Surgery at The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. At Ohio State University, he served as Dean of the College of Medicine, Vice President for Health Sciences, and Co-Leader of the Health System. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO at the University of Virginia Health System.
His career achievements have been recognized with his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. In addition to his institutional roles, Craig Kent has held key national leadership positions, including President of the Society for Vascular Surgery, President of the Society of Surgical Chairs, and Chair of the American Board of Surgery. These positions reflect his longstanding contribution to the broader surgical and medical community.
Dr. Kent’s research has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for over three decades. He has chaired the Surgery and Bioengineering study section and served on several NIH committees. His work covers a wide range of areas, from vascular biology to healthcare quality and delivery outcomes. He has authored 360 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to 65 books and book chapters. His research has been featured in publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
His involvement in academic publishing includes serving as editor or associate editor for the Annals of Vascular Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, and Haimovici’s Vascular Surgery. He has also served on the editorial boards of numerous peer-reviewed journals, helping to shape scientific communication in his field.
As a speaker, Craig Kent, MD, has presented as a Visiting Professor or Keynote Speaker at over 120 academic medical centers worldwide. At UVA Health, where he served as CEO, the system experienced extensive growth. Revenue rose from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion, and clinical care delivery nearly doubled. Quality metrics reached a ten-year high, and staff satisfaction increased by over 15 percent despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and workforce challenges across the healthcare sector.
During his time at UVA Health, Craig Kent led expansion efforts across the state. These included the acquisition of three hospitals and a physician group in Northern Virginia, a minority investment in a five-hospital system in Eastern Virginia, and the purchase of a large multi-specialty group. Research funding at the UVA School of Medicine increased by $60 million, and he led the planning for the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, scheduled to open in 2026.
He also played a key role in enhancing philanthropic support for the system. Under his leadership, UVA Health tripled its fundraising efforts, securing over $650 million and achieving the organization’s portion of a $1 billion campaign. At Ohio State, he oversaw more than 2,100 faculty members and managed a physician group comprising over 1,200 providers. He guided the institution through the recruitment of over 400 faculty members, increased NIH funding, launched a new compensation system, and supported $200 million in annual philanthropic contributions.
Earlier, at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Kent led the growth of the Department of Surgery, doubling its clinical volume and improving its NIH ranking from 26th to 5th nationally. Following the merger of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals, he directed the vascular surgery divisions at Columbia and Cornell, developing one of the most comprehensive academic vascular surgery programs in the country.
Dr. Kent’s professional journey includes numerous academic appointments. He served as an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and held faculty positions at Cornell, Columbia, the University of Wisconsin, The Ohio State University, and the University of Virginia. His honors include induction into Alpha Omega Alpha at UCSF, the Fred and Esther Nusz Annual Achievement Award, the Harold Bengloff Award, and the E. J. Wylie Traveling Fellowship, which is awarded for excellence in clinical and scientific research. He has also received multiple Top Doctor and Best Doctor awards throughout his clinical career.
