Bernard J. Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, speaking at the HLTH conference in Las Vegas
Just two weeks ago, Bernard J. Tyson strode onto the mainstage at the HLTH conference in Las Vegas, one hand in pocket, laying out a vision for the dignity of life. Tyson, chairman, president and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, spoke forcefully about the moral obligation that leaders like him have to care for those in need as he announced that Kaiser is joining a nutrition assistance program offered by the state.
That vision which he articulated and launched will now have to be completed by someone else. In a stunning reminder of how fickle life is, death claimed Tyson in his sleep on Sunday. He was only 60.
“Bernard’s greatest contributions were in the areas of diversity and social determinants of health,” wrote Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, in an email. “He served as a role model for African-American leaders both inside Kaiser Permanente and across other industries.”
Pearl, who has known Bernard since Pearl was selected as the CEO of Permanente Medical Group in 1998, said this focus on SDoH echoed what Kaiser’s founders had in mind.
“As the KP Thrive campaign has emphasized, health is multi-factorial and includes not just the medical care provided, but also nutrition, housing, jobs and transportation. Between the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals and The Permanente Medical Group, we were the largest employer in the city of Oakland. Addressing the needs of the community was part of our 70-year social mission dating back to Dr. Sidney Garfield and Mr. Henry Kaiser,” Pearl wrote.
Last year, Kaiser Permanente launched a housing program, pledging $200 million to tackle homelessness. Equity was something that was always close to Tyson’s heart, something that he was discussing even on Saturday, a day before his untimely demise.
.@aboutKP we believe that #healthcare is high-tech and high-touch. Thanks, @AfroTech, for the chance to speak about how to build a better future. The road to health equity includes Oakland. pic.twitter.com/AATyItfucO
— Bernard J.Tyson, CEO (@BernardJTyson) November 9, 2019
The board of Kaiser named Gregory A. Adams, executive Vice President and Group President, as interim Chairman and CEO.
