The healthcare industry is experiencing a profound transformation fueled by technological advancements, evolving patient needs, and changing regulatory environments. As a result, the role of healthcare executives has become increasingly pivotal in guiding the industry towards its goals.
The global digital health market has reached an impressive $211 billion in 2022 and is projected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% in the next seven years. Thus, it is crucial to delve into the journeys of these leaders who are at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare.
What Are Healthcare Executives?
Healthcare executives are influential leaders who hold high-level positions in the healthcare segment of companies from different industries. They are responsible for setting the direction, improving efficiency, and ensuring the overall performance of their organizations. These leaders navigate complex regulations and drive innovation to meet the changing needs of healthcare patients and providers.
Steven Sousa, Senior Vice President of Health and Social Services at CGI Federal
Steven Sousa is the Senior Vice President of CGI Federal’s Health and Social Services and has been running CGI’s federal health business for over a decade now. Steve Sousa steers his team toward offering support to clients from federal healthcare agencies, including Department of Health and Human Services.
It also includes all of its components: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA).
He has been instrumental in broadening the company’s healthcare-oriented offerings and client portfolio. Thereby driving substantial growth. His expertise spans many areas, including federal regulatory compliance, healthcare policies, strategic planning, IT development, and project execution.
With a portfolio valued at over $150M in annual revenue ($3.5 billion in contract value), he oversees 700 professionals to support expected continued growth. Mr. Sousa is a Federal 100 award recipient and a Pinnacle Award finalist in 2020.
Steven Sousa in 2023
In 2023, Steven Sousa will continue to carry out his expanded role by assuming more responsibilities and overseeing the profit and loss (P&L) within CGI’s Health and Social Services Unit. This expansion comes from the successful growth of an internal Healthcare and Technology practice. It was developed to align with the goals of federal agencies and provide enhanced benefits to CGI’s U.S. government customers.
About CGI Federal Health and Social Services
Established in 2021, the CGI Federal Health and Social Services business unit is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CGI in the U.S. It serves as a dedicated entity that caters to customers from various departments, including Health and Human Services and Education, Social Security Administration, National Science Foundation, and Defense Health Agency. Its primary objective is to support their goals and adapt to the evolving digital landscape.
Tonia Bleecher, Chief Executive Officer at Ventech Solutions
Tonia Bleecher is the Chief Executive Officer of Ventech Solutions. She is a trusted advisor to clients, overseeing corporate strategy, partnerships, and innovation initiatives. With an extensive government contracting background, Bleecher is deeply committed to enhancing the nation’s health care ecosystem.
Since joining Ventech in 2018 as a Senior Vice President, she has rapidly advanced within the organization. She assumed roles such as Chief Growth Officer and Chief Operating Officer before ultimately being appointed CEO in January 2022.
Tonia Bleecher in 2023
Tonia Bleecher shares strategies for cloud migration and provides insights into its importance and the challenges involved in the process. Organizations need a well-defined strategy, security measures, and a phased approach to ensure smooth transition to the cloud.
Bleacher’s team also recognizes that security cannot be treated as a separate entity but an integral part of how their business is conducted. Hence, their security function is embedded within their development teams. This close collaboration is a fundamental aspect of their DevSecOps model.
About Ventech Solutions
Ventech Solutions is a healthcare IT company that partners with the government and helps them use technology to improve healthcare. The company uses innovative technology, such as platforms that accelerate health screenings and cloud technology to meet tight security standards and to empower federal clients in healthcare.
Sally Susman, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Pfizer
As Pfizer’s Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer, Sally Susman manages diverse tasks within the company. These tasks include stakeholder engagement, communications, corporate responsibility, global policy, government and investor relations, and patient advocacy.
Alongside her Pfizer role, she is also a Vice Chair at the Pfizer Foundation. Susman has over 30 years of experience in government and corporate affairs on her sleeves. She previously held positions at Estée Lauder and American Express.
Pfizer is one of the leading healthcare providers under the global spotlight during the surge of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This period helped Susman distill her life’s experience into ten guiding principles which she later published as a book. These principles became her guide to managing external communications in this unprecedented situation.
Additionally, in her book “Breaking Through”, Susman shares lessons from her upbringing in St. Louis, Missouri and a forty-year career in various sectors such as business, politics, and communications. This book provided insights on how to cut through the noise and conventional thought to establish deeper connections and bring about positive change.
Sally Susman in 2023
In 2023, Sally Susman emerged as a prominent voice across various media platforms, underlining the significance of purposeful communication personally and professionally. She generously shares insights from her journey of discovering her voice, offering guidance on how others may follow a similar path. Mastering the art of effective message delivery, Sally Susman has fine-tuned her competency and has engaged with all of Pfizer’s external stakeholders, leveraging her profound communication skills.
About Pfizer
Top biopharmaceutical company, Pfizer focuses on research. It uses science and its worldwide resources to create new treatments that enhance and greatly improve people’s lives. Every day, Pfizer’s employees work to promote well-being, prevention, treatments and cures for the most concerning diseases of our era.
Bobby Saxon, Vice President of Health Group at Leidos
Bobby Saxon was appointed as Vice President and Strategic Account Executive for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at Leidos in January 2023. In this role, he enhances and expands the company’s rapport with HHS and promotes strategic endeavors that contribute to overall business growth.
Saxon brings extensive experience to the position, having served as a Colonel in the Army with deployments in Iraq. He also has a background in federal health leadership and information technology from SitScape. Over half of his professional career has been dedicated to public service.
Bobby Saxon in 2023
This 2023, Bobby Saxon will embrace his new role geared towards prioritizing customer advocacy. Armed with the passion for effective communication, transparency, collaboration, and customer service, he will enhance the company’s ability to serve its customers and develop comprehensive solutions for healthcare clients.
About Leidos
Leidos’ Civilian Health market is dedicated to supporting the work of various U.S. federal agencies focusing on health. This includes agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Food and Drug Administration. The company’s collaborations with such agencies positively impact the health and well-being of American citizens.
