Wendy Horton

Wendy Horton, MBA, PharmD, FACHE, is a nationally recognized healthcare executive with a proven record of leadership across major academic medical centers. She currently serves as Senior Vice President and President of Adult Services at UCSF Health, one of the nation's top 10 hospitals. Throughout her career, she has focused on advancing operational excellence, strategic growth, and patient-centered care, while maintaining a deep commitment to community health and organizational integrity.

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A strong advocate for healthcare innovation and quality improvement, she emphasizes the importance of optimizing systems, refining care delivery, and leveraging technology to strengthen outcomes for both patients and care teams.

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Her combination of clinical pharmacy expertise and executive leadership within high-performing institutions has produced outstanding results in safety, access, and quality, positioning her as a respected and influential leader in healthcare.

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Professional Career

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UVA Health

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Before joining UCSF Health, she served as CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center and System COO of UVA Health, a $4.5 billion health system employing over 17,000 team members and 1,200 faculty in Charlottesville, Virginia. During her five-year tenure, she played a pivotal role in statewide growth and integration. She led strategic partnerships and acquisitions that expanded the organization’s reach, including initiatives with UVA Community Health, Riverside Health System, the Virginia Congenital Cardiac Consortium, and the Sentara Martha Jefferson stroke partnership. She also strengthened pediatric behavioral health programs and improved systemwide coordination across clinical, operational, and financial areas to promote long-term sustainability and patient-focused outcomes.

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Under her leadership, UVA Health doubled in size, extending its reach and impact across Virginia. She developed workforce pipeline initiatives, including an earn-while-you-learn program, and advanced population health strategies that addressed social determinants of health to enhance community well-being.

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Wendy also fostered a culture of safety and transparency, emphasizing adequate staffing, leadership visibility, and psychological safety. She introduced open communication efforts, including Be Heard Breakfasts, Ask Me Anything sessions, town halls, listening forums, weekly blogs, and clinical rounds. She founded the Center for Advanced Practice, establishing a professional home for more than 700 Advanced Practice Providers to enhance patient access and career growth. Her leadership reduced reliance on travel nurses by over 75%.

 

The Ohio State University

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Wendy served for three years as Chief Administrative Officer at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, part of a $4 billion academic health system that includes seven hospitals and 20 research institutes. In this role, she guided the onboarding of 13 department chairs and 16 division leaders, elevated faculty engagement, and strengthened diversity among faculty and students.

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Her operational improvements reduced physician recruitment time from 76 days to fewer than 14 days—an 81% improvement. She developed and implemented a $340 million physician compensation plan affecting 1,200 physicians across 18 departments. Within her first 90 days, she streamlined administrative functions, managed the planning and construction of two campus buildings, and increased research funding to $269.4 million, a 28.4% rise. She also played a key role in securing the $65.9 million HEALing Communities Grant, the largest in the university’s history.

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University of Wisconsin

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Wendy spent 12 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including three years as Vice President of Operations. In that position, she combined clinical, surgical, and operational expertise to oversee the completion and commissioning of a new hospital. She managed professional, hospitality, business development, and support services across the organization, ensuring coordinated operations and consistent delivery of high-quality care.

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Accomplishments

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Her achievements have been recognized nationally for excellence in leadership and healthcare transformation. In 2023, she was named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top Women Leaders in Healthcare. Under her guidance, UVA Health achieved the #1 hospital ranking in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. These recognitions were maintained through significant challenges, including the pandemic.

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The organization was also featured on Forbes' 2025 list of America’s Best Employers for Women and received the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

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Her leadership consistently achieved “A” safety ratings across UVA Health Medical Centers and earned the highest national trauma care award. The organization also earned Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a distinction held by only 9% of U.S. hospitals.

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Wendy was featured in the article “How 2 Pharmacy Leaders Became Hospital CEOs,” which highlighted her professional journey from clinical pharmacy to hospital leadership. Her career has been marked by innovation in pharmacy practice, leadership development, and workforce initiatives, including the “Earn While You Learn” program that builds strong healthcare career pathways.

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Board Positions and Memberships

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Wendy currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Vizient AMC CEO Executive Advisory Council, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Foundation.

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Education

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She holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Oregon State University. She is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She is also a licensed pharmacist in Wisconsin and Utah.

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Wendy Horton continues to lead with integrity and vision, advancing healthcare through operational excellence, innovation, and a steadfast dedication to patients, care teams, and communities.