Ian Adler Memorial Healthcare
INNOVATOR AWARD

The Ian Adler Memorial Healthcare Innovator Award gives our attendees, hosts and sponsors an opportunity to recognize outstanding operating executives who, as health industry change agents and Chief Executive Officers, have made a dramatic impact on the success of their individual companies in terms of value creation; the implementation of sector-shaping business models and innovative business practices; culture and team-building; and their individual/organizational impact on the overall healthcare scene.

In nominating and selecting awardees, we have a strong bias for leaders who have achieved these goals within the context of the emerging growth arena, and whose entire body of work across a career in relevant settings can be recognized by our Conference. The healthcare segments represented in a nominee’s background include healthcare services, managed care, and health information.

2025 Award Recipient: Kent J. Thiry

Kent J. Thiry
Former Chairman & CEO, DaVita

We are proud to announce that Kent J. Thiry, renowned healthcare leader and former Chairman and CEO of DaVita, will receive the 2025 Healthcare Leaders Ian Adler Innovator Award.

Kent Thiry is widely recognized as one of the most transformative leaders in the history of U.S. healthcare. During his more than two decades at the helm of DaVita, he grew the Company into a Fortune 200 global enterprise, serving over 200,000 patients across more than a dozen countries through 2,600+ outpatient dialysis centers worldwide. His leadership philosophy—blending a mission-driven, “community-first” culture with operational excellence—has been studied by Harvard and Stanford and emulated by organizations far beyond healthcare. 

Beyond his work at DaVita, Thiry remains a civic leader and changemaker. He is currently an Executive Advisor to KKR, one of the world’s leading private equity sponsors. He is also a member of the Global Board of The Nature Conservancy, as well as Co-Chair of Unite America, a philanthropic venture fund advancing nonpartisan electoral reforms.

In healthcare innovation, Thiry remains a thought leader and advisor: he’s on the board of SonderMind, supporting expanded access to mental health care; and he serves as a senior advisor to Action Behavior Centers (autism), Blue Sprig (autism care), IVIRMA (fertility), and co-founded Confluent (physical therapy), continuing his drive to improve delivery and outcomes across diverse practice areas. As a civic reformer, he has led successful ballot initiatives in Colorado—on redistricting reform, open primaries, fiscal reform, and more—and helped build tri-partisan coalitions.

In honoring Kent with the Innovator Award, Healthcare Leaders recognizes not only his groundbreaking work at DaVita, but also his ongoing influence in finance, conservation, education, healthcare innovation, civic reform, and economic inclusion. He exemplifies a rare ability to reimagine leadership across sectors, shaping better futures for patients, communities, and our democracy.

Read more about Kent Thiry here.

Past Innovator Award Recipients

  • Andrew Hayek

    Andrew Hayek

    (2024)

  • Neil E. de Crescenzo

    (2023)

  • Benjamin A. Breier

    (2022)

  • Julie Klapstein

    (2021)

  • Glen Tullman

    (2019)

  • R. Andrew Eckert

    (2018)

  • Toby Cosgrove, MD

    (2017)

  • Quint Studer

    (2016)

  • April Anthony

    (2015)

  • Norman Payson, MD

    (2014)

  • Alan Hoops

    (2013)

  • Pat Ryan

    (2012)

  • Senator Bill Frist

    (2011)

  • Steve Shulman

    (2010)

In Memory of Ian Adler

In 2016, with the untimely passing of Ian Adler, the Innovator Award was renamed as a tribute to our great friend and sponsor.

Ian was Senior Managing Director of Healthcare at Marwood Group. His energy, passionate commitment to the healthcare industry, and his generosity of spirit embody all the best of Healthcare Leaders.

We miss him greatly.