Health, Hope, and Healing for All

One of America’s top healthcare leaders offers a prescription to fix an ailing and inequitable healthcare system

In Health, Hope, and Healing for All, Eugene A. Woods, CEO of Advocate Health, one of the largest non-profit health systems in the nation, provides a riveting behind-the-scenes look at healthcare in the United States.

By sharing his insights from three decades in healthcare administration, as well as his personal journey, readers gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing healthcare systems and the impact on all of us. Woods sheds light on the inequities our communities face, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and presents actionable prescriptions to create a more equitable, just and accessible healthcare system. He tackles tough questions around the affordability of healthcare, rising drug prices, alarming clinical shortages and more.

As a Black healthcare CEO, Woods shares his personal experiences with injustice and charts a path towards meaningful change. His optimistic outlook and passion for transformation and innovation inspire readers to believe in the power of unity and resilience in the face of adversity.

Health, Hope, and Healing for All is a must-read for those working in healthcare, policymakers, and individuals seeking hope and answers in an uncertain healthcare landscape. Supported by Woods' expertise and credibility, the book presents real solutions to the current crisis and highlights the urgent need to ensure accessible, affordable and compassionate healthcare for every American.

Eugene A. Woods, MBA, MHA, FACHE, is Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Health, one of the largest non-profit health systems in the country – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. The organization has nearly 150,000 teammates, serving over six million patients in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Advocate Health also offers among the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs, with over 2,000 residents and fellows.

Woods has 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, including as chair of the American Hospital Association. For his dedication to health equity, he has been recognized multiple times by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare. Last year, Woods received the National Center for Healthcare Leadership’s Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award. He also has been recognized as a top industry leader by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Becker’s Healthcare, the Charlotte Business Journal, Axios, Business North Carolina, and the National Association of Health Service Executives.

Woods holds three degrees from Pennsylvania State University and was named an ‘Alumni of the Year’ by his alma mater.

"At a time when our healthcare sector is facing unprecedented challenges, we need visionary leaders more than ever. Gene's vision for the future is a source of hope and his journey is an inspiration. In this book, he not only brings readers behind-the-scenes of a major healthcare system's work to expand access to healthcare and confront an unprecedented pandemic, but he also presents smart, bipartisan policy prescriptions to achieve the transformation our nation desperately needs."
—Erskine Bowles, former White House chief of staff and former president, University of North Carolina
 
“Gene Woods gives us an incredible balance of technical expertise, world-class leadership, and unmatched authenticity with his book about health care. He offers a powerful lesson about overcoming adversity and not allowing your surroundings to limit your vision of the future. By transparently giving us a view of his personal journey, he inspires us with what can be achieved through a commitment to education, hard work, and excellence. Whether you're an experienced executive or a student dreaming of a better future, this book will inspire you on the art of the possible while providing hope for the future of America’s healthcare system.”
—Marvin Ellison, chairman, president, and CEO, Lowe’s Home Improvement
 
“As one of our nation’s premier healthcare executives and a great North Carolinian, Gene has seen firsthand how Americans interact with our healthcare system. In his writing, Gene cuts through the complexity of our healthcare system and paints a compelling picture of what healthcare in America could and should look like. It's a must-read for those who want a front row seat to innovative ideas and thoughtful ways to expand access to healthcare, build the clinical workforce of the future, and address health disparities.”
—Former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
 
"Gene Woods offers a peek behind the curtain to understand how a major health system met the moment of COVID-19 and responded to the crisis with both effectiveness and grace for its patients and teammates. I saw that firsthand as Honeywell and Atrium Health worked side-by-side to confront the pandemic. This book not only tells an inspiring story about responding to COVID-19, but more broadly illustrates the power of inclusive leadership to drive outstanding outcomes. It should resonate with readers from across different industries who want to cultivate their own leadership skills and solve our nation's most pressing challenges."
—Darius Adamczyk, executive chairman and former CEO, Honeywell
 
“You can’t read this book and not want to join Gene’s march to a better, healthier world!”
—Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO, Bank of America

“In this book, Gene Woods gives unparalleled insight into the events and experiences that molded him into the leader he is today. Gene provides incisive analysis on the structural challenges the healthcare field faces, coupled with solutions based on his decades of healthcare leadership. Gene is one of the field’s guiding lights and this book is a must-read for anyone working in healthcare or even just looking to better understand healthcare in America.”
—Rick Pollack, president and CEO, American Hospital Association