Craig Kent

Dr. Craig Kent’s leadership began as Division Chief in Vascular Surgery at Columbia and Cornell, where he also led the Vascular Service line at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He later became 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. His most recent leadership role was as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO of the University of Virginia Health System.

His contributions to medicine and research were recognized with his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. He has also held 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 appointments reflect his longstanding commitment to advancing medical education and enhancing surgical practice across the nation.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Kent has received continuous research funding from the National Institutes of Health. He has chaired the NIH’s Surgery and Bioengineering study section and has participated in several other research review panels. His work spans both basic science and clinical research, including investigations into vascular disease mechanisms and healthcare outcomes. He has authored 360 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to 65 books and book chapters. His research has been published in respected journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Kent has supported academic publishing as an 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 the academic dialogue in his field.

As a speaker, Craig Kent, MD, has shared his insights at over 120 academic medical centers as a Visiting Professor or Keynote Speaker. During his tenure as CEO at UVA Health, the system experienced significant growth. Annual revenue rose from $2.5 billion to $4.7 billion. Clinical care delivery nearly doubled, and patient access expanded substantially. Despite widespread challenges from COVID-19 and staffing shortages, staff satisfaction increased by more than 15 percent among the system’s 18,000 employees.

Under his leadership, UVA Health made key strategic moves. The system acquired three hospitals and a physician group in Northern Virginia, became a minority owner in a five-hospital system in Eastern Virginia, and purchased a large multi-specialty practice. The University of Virginia School of Medicine experienced a $60 million increase in research funding. Craig Kent also led the launch of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, which is set to open in 2026.

He played a major role in increasing philanthropic support, helping raise over $650 million toward a $1 billion capital campaign. At Ohio State, he oversaw a faculty of 2,100 and a physician group of more than 1,200. His leadership brought expanded NIH funding, the hiring of more than 400 new faculty members, a new faculty compensation model, and a $200 million increase in annual fundraising. His efforts also supported the development of new clinical and research facilities.

Earlier in his career, at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Kent led efforts to double the size of the Department of Surgery and increase surgical volume. He also helped raise the department’s NIH research ranking from 26th to 5th nationally. Following the merger of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals, he led the vascular surgery programs at Columbia and Cornell, creating one of the largest and most successful academic vascular programs in the country.

Craig Kent has earned recognition for his academic and clinical achievements. He held the rank of Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and served as Professor of Surgery at Cornell, Columbia, the University of Wisconsin, The Ohio State University, and the University of Virginia. His awards include induction into Alpha Omega Alpha at UCSF, the Fred and Ester Nusz Annual Achievement Award, the Harold Bengloff Award for teaching, and the E. J. Wylie Traveling Fellowship from the Society for Vascular Surgery. He has also received numerous Top Doctor and Best Doctor distinctions.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, San Francisco. His postdoctoral training includes a surgical residency at UCSF, a vascular research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an endovascular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, and leadership development at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has held medical licenses in Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Virginia.

Dr. Kent is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Surgical Association, the Society of Surgical Chairs, the International Surgical Group, the American Board of Surgery, the Blue Ridge Academic Health Group, and the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.