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John Kenagy, MD, MPA  

Physician, Healthcare Executive & Author

Dr. John Kenagy knows healthcare as a physician, executive, scholar, advisor and patient. In addition to 20 years of experience as a vascular surgeon, he has been Chief of Surgery, Chief of Staff and Regional Vice President for Business Development for a multi-state, nonprofit healthcare delivery system. And, most importantly, he has been a patient.

His frustration with current healthcare methods was fueled by an injury, when he suffered a broken neck in a fall from a tree. Critically injured, he discovered that his recovery depended on the efforts of dedicated individuals working in an unpredictable and often unresponsive system.

Searching for new answers, he became a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Business School. His research included developing disruptive innovation healthcare strategy with Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen and translating to healthcare the drivers for success in resilient, highly adaptive companies like Toyota, Intel and Apple. The result is Adaptive Design, ® a self-sustaining system for developing, doing and improving patient care within and across disciplines.

In conjunction with this research, he authored 'Designed to Adapt: Leading Healthcare in Challenging Times" as a guidebook to increase care at a lower cost. The American College of Healthcare Executives named it the 2011 Book of the Year. In addition, his contributions have been widely recognized by the University of Washington, University of Pittsburgh and Forbes featured Kenagy as “the man who would save healthcare.”

Dr. Kenagy’s writing, workshops and online learning course make everyone accountable for patient-centered innovation as part of their daily work and, thereby, thrive in 21st-century healthcare.

Speech Topics


The Game Changer: How to Take Control of 21st-Century Healthcare

Delivering on the Promise: The Truly Accountable, Patient-Centered Point of Care

Quality-Centered Healthcare: Act Your Way to a New Way of Thinking

From CEO to the Frontline: Developing People as the #1 Resource

Adaptive Innovation Insights: Building Success & Innovation in 21st Century Healthcare

Knowing What To Do To Lead in the New World of Healthcare

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Will South Dakota Do What Others Won’t? Diagnosing the Problem

The Path to an Adaptive Hospital Business Model

The Flaw in the Professor’s Theory: Disruptive Innovation 101

Seeing Through New Eyes: Discovery-Driven Design for Healthcare Innovation

New Opportunities for 21st Century Healthcare Information Technology

New Business Opportunities in 21st Century Healthcare

Management Innovation for 21st Century Healthcare

Leading Healthcare in Challenging Times Leaving a Legacy: Designed to Adapt for 21st Century Healthcare

Innovation, the Human Brain, and Healthcare

How To Do What Others Won’t: Sustainable Innovation for 21st Century Healthcare

Doing What Others Won’t: Creating Adaptive Labor/Management Relationships

Designed to Adapt: Leading Healthcare Education in Challenging Times

Designed to Adapt: Leading by Doing What Others Won’t

Designed to Adapt Consulting: Enabling Your Clients to Do What Their Competitors Won’t

Delivering on the Promise: Getting Patients Exactly What They Need at Continually Lower Cost

Adaptive Information Technology Strategy for 21st Century Healthcare Competitive Advantage

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