Craig Albanese to Conclude Service as Chief Executive Officer of Duke University Health System

Craig Albanese, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of Duke University Health System (DUHS), will conclude his service on September 30, President Vincent E. Price announced in a message to the Duke community Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Albanese, who has served as CEO of DUHS since 2023, will become president of Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest nonprofit integrated health system, based in Oakland, California. “Under Craig’s leadership, DUHS expanded its reach and impact across the state, advanced innovation in patient care, and strengthened its culture of compassion, respect and belonging,” Price said. “I am grateful for his outstanding service to Duke and his dedication to advancing health and healthcare.”

During his tenure at Duke, the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) transitioned to the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP), uniting thousands of physicians and staff into a single structure for the first time in Duke’s history and allowing the health system to expand clinical offerings and access to Duke-quality care. His vision for growth led to Duke Health’s increased reach across North Carolina, with the acquisition of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center (now Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital), the groundbreaking of a new inpatient and emergency care facility in Cary, and the expansion of rehabilitation services at Peak Rehabilitation Hospital. A historic partnership between Duke Health and UNC Health was also created to establish North Carolina Children’s, which is poised to be the state’s only freestanding children’s hospital. For DUHS employees, Dr. Albanese oversaw successful efforts to foster a greater culture of respect, empowerment, and belonging among team members.

Preparations will commence immediately for a national search for the next CEO of DUHS, with details to be announced soon.

An interim management structure for DUHS will be implemented until a new CEO is named. During this interim period, Tom Owens, MD, executive vice president and chief operating officer of DUHS, will report to Price. Dr. Owens and the DUHS leadership team will maintain close coordination with Mary Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

Duke University Health System advances its clinical mission by delivering care to millions of patients across 423 locations, including four hospitals (Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital) and numerous outpatient locations, including Duke Primary Care, Duke Health Integrated Practices, Duke HomeCare & Hospice, and multiple affiliations. DUHS is part of Duke Health, the world-class academic health care and research arm of Duke University, including Duke School of Medicine, Duke-National University Singapore Medical School, Duke Global Health Institute, and Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy.