Dan Lundergan, the current chief operating officer at University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, has been named the organization’s CEO. He has served as interim CEO since February and steps into the official role beginning immediately.
Lundergan will oversee UofU Health’s five hospitals and 12 community clinics as well as the nearly 14,000 employees who work in the clinical system.
“With more than 40 years of experience, expertise and success leading throughout our organization, I can’t think of anyone more qualified to lead our healthcare system going forward,” said Dr. Michael L. Good, senior vice president for health sciences, executive dean of the School of Medicine and CEO of University of Utah Health. “Dan brings a proven track record of excellence. He has earned the trust and respect of our team of teams during the many years he has served our organization. We are fortunate to have him in this key leadership role at such a critical time.”
Lundergan has spent more than four decades working at UofU Health, beginning as a worker in the hospital laundry. He’s since worked his way up through virtually every facet of the organization. “Along the way, he developed a deep respect for the diverse individuals who work in academic medicine and health sciences,” a university statement said. “He is dedicated to advancing health and wellness through culture by building the highest-quality teams in the region to deliver some of the highest-quality care in the nation.”
During the past year, Lundergan helped guide the organization through the current COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and other major system events, including the opening of the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital last summer.
“I am humbled to serve as CEO in an organization that I truly love,” Lundergan said. “I’ve spent my entire career here and I’m deeply invested in the quality care of our patients and the success of our organization and employees. Trust, respect and teamwork are the core principles that have always guided me and I plan to continue leading with those priorities at the forefront.”
Lundergan received a bachelor’s degree in economics at the UofU and a master of healthcare administration degree at the University of Minnesota. A married father of three boys, he and his family enjoy participating in many of Utah’s outdoor activities, including skiing, biking and hiking.
“I’m honored to serve in this role,” Lundergan said. “Having grown alongside UofU Health, I can honestly say that our health system and its collaboration with research, education and community engagement missions are unmatched in the nation.”