about

Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, DSc honoris causa

Dr. Stephen Klasko is a pre-eminent innovator and advocate, pursuing his passion to bridge traditional academic medicine with the emerging world of generative AI, digital medicine and entrepreneurship. His focus on building radical collaboration has led to numerous new partnerships. In 2018, he was recognized by Modern Healthcare, tying for #2 in its list of the most influential individuals in healthcare. In 2024, he was named one of
healthcare’s “Great Leaders” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

His career has been driven by his vision for a revolution in healthcare and higher education, as dean of two medical colleges, as a health system CEO, and as a university president. As an author, he has used creativity through music, science fiction, and storytelling to develop what he sees as “heretical optimism” in creating institutions that are friendly, equitable, and develop healthcare and education at any address.

He has developed alternative programs for medical school admissions and mentorship, for lifelong education, for virtual health and for creativity. As chair of Apple’s iTunes Advisory Board for Health, he led the early wave of online university content.

Current activities:

Dr. Klasko is an Executive in Residence at General Catalyst, the world’s largest venture capital investor in generative AI and its impact on healthcare workforce transformation and clinical trial expansion. He is Chair of the Board of DocGo, a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile health services. He serves as the lead independent director of Teleflex, involved in expanding its global footprint. He serves as ambassador and chief global innovation officer for Sheba Medical Center. He is creating an “Alliance” of fifteen large health systems across the United States willing to lead in digital transformation through Abundant Venture Partners. He has been chosen as the chair of the CEO council for the American Cancer Society and chosen by the AAAS to help lead a diverse council of leaders on the opportunities and unintended consequences of AI and mental health. Dr. Klasko was appointed by President Biden (after senate confirmation) to the National Board of Education Sciences. He was appointed co-chair for Health Evolution’s “obstacles to healthcare digital transformation.” He is also the past board chair of Opera Philadelphia and a trustee of Rosalind Franklin University and Chicago Medical School.

On May 15, 2024, he was given an honorary doctorate from Fairleigh-Dickinson University based on his successes in reducing healthcare and educational disparities.

Career summary:

Dr. Klasko began his career as a busy women’s health physician, leading innovation in such areas as finding alternatives to hysterectomy. Since then, his clinical, healthcare leadership, executive, entrepreneurial and academic career have been spent searching for, and trying to create, best practices globally in the economic, equity, social and clinical arenas. By 2019, he was a Distinguished Fellow of the World Economic Forum, leading
projects on “healthcare at any address,” and the ethics of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

As President of Thomas Jefferson University, he directed a merger between a two-century old health science university and a nationally ranked university for design and architecture. That merger was heralded by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the “few successful mergers between academic entities.” As CEO of Jefferson Health, he presided over the growth of the system from $1.5 billion to $9 billion including the acquisition of Health Partners Plan, making Jefferson the first integrated delivery and financial system in Philadelphia history and the largest health system in Philadelphia. This included a first-of-its-kind digital “health at any address” partnership between Jefferson and leading health venture capital firms such as General Catalyst, and 16z and
Oak HC. Through his development of a unique partnership with Gemelli Health System and Cattolica University in Italy, Jefferson became one of the few American universities able to participate in Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding.

His most recent book, Feelin’ Alright: How the Message in the Music Can Make Healthcare Healthier uses music and creativity to tackle the biggest issues in healthcare. His fifth book (with Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst) in 2021, UnHealthcare: A Manifesto for Health Assurance has become the manual for both founders and health system CEOs for merging the venture capital world with the traditional healthcare ecosystem.

In 2024, Becker’s Hospital Review named him one of the “Great Leaders in Healthcare.” He has been awarded by Fast Company as one of the “top 25 most creative people in business,” by Modern Healthcare as the “#2 most influential person in healthcare” and by Ernst and Young as the “entrepreneur of the year.”

He lives in Miami and New York with his wife Colleen Wyse, a commercial model and former fashion executive with senior positions in Vogue, W and Glamour.