Warner Thomas is president and CEO of Sutter Health, a not-for-profit health system headquartered in Northern California that cares for nearly 3.6 million patients in one of the most innovative regions of the country.
In his role, Thomas leads more than 57,000 employees, 13,000 physicians and 2,500 advanced practice clinicians in Sutter Health’s nationally recognized integrated delivery system of hospitals, outpatient care and surgery centers, home health and hospice care, laboratory and pharmacy services, and research facilities.
Sutter Leadership and Vision
A dynamic and purpose-driven leader, Thomas has demonstrated the capability to navigate the healthcare landscape at every level — from outstanding nation-leading patient care to organizational strategy to public policy at both the state and national levels. At Sutter, he is building advanced clinical programs and capabilities along with a thriving culture, investing in workforce development, significantly expanding patient access to care and strengthening collaboration and partnerships — especially with the system’s growing number of physicians — to position Sutter Health as the premier health system in California.
In just the last year, Sutter’s clinical teams have received national recognition for quality care by premier national organizations like U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, Leapfrog, The Joint Commission, American Heart Association and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That recognition spans multiple segments of care, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical groups and specific service lines like stroke and maternity care.
Past Experience and Accomplishments
Thomas, who has over 30 years’ experience in healthcare, took the reins at Sutter Health in late November 2022 after serving for 10 years as president and CEO of Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest healthcare provider, employer and educator of medical professionals. At Ochsner, he led a partnership strategy with physicians, health plans, technology companies and others to expand the system’s physician network and care services, enhance digital health capabilities and technology integration, and improve health outcomes with a focus on population health equitable care. Prior to becoming CEO, Thomas was Ochsner Health’s president and chief operating officer from 1998-2012.
Professional Affiliations and Boards
He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He previously served as a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees and has served as Chairman of AHA’s Health Systems Governing Council. He also previously served on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to advise Congress on issues affecting Medicare. Thomas is a past member of the Bay Area Council Board of Directors, the Board of the American Medical Group Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges Advisory Panel for Health Care and Council of Teaching Hospitals.
Awards and Recognition
In 2025, he was again recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and named by Becker’s Hospital Review to its list of 61 Health System CEO Influencers and among its Great Healthcare Leaders to Know. Also in 2025, he received a Regent’s Award from the California Association of Healthcare Leaders. He is a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award and the Anti-Defamation League 2018 A.I. Botnick Torch of Liberty Award. He also was named a Glassdoor Top CEO, Ernst & Young’s 2019 Entrepreneur Of The Year® in the Healthcare & Related Services category for the Gulf Coast Area, and the 2017 CEO of the Year by Biz New Orleans magazine.
Education
Thomas earned an undergraduate degree with majors in accounting and computer information systems from New Hampshire College in Manchester, N.H., and a Master of Business Administration degree in 1994 from Boston University Graduate School of Management. He has also been a certified public accountant.