Paz has transformative vision for health care delivery in time of industry change
Harold L. Paz, MD, is the first to serve in the position of chancellor and executive vice president for Health Affairs at The Ohio State University. A nationally renowned health care leader with a unique combination of expertise in both academic medical centers and a Fortune 50 company, Dr. Paz is a recognized visionary who advocates a comprehensive model to address health and wellness of individuals and communities in a rapidly evolving society.
At Ohio State, Dr. Paz, who goes by Hal, will lead all seven health sciences colleges and the $3.7 billion Wexner Medical Center enterprise, which includes seven hospitals, a nationally ranked college of medicine, 20-plus research institutes, multiple ambulatory sites, an accountable care organization and a health plan.
“A comprehensive flagship university, Ohio State is at the forefront of defining the future and educating the next generation of health care professionals for a very different world,” he says. Dr. Paz is future-focused and intent on addressing the health care needs of Ohioans in innovative, personalized and integrated ways. His passion for identifying nontraditional health care delivery methods — from digital applications to virtual visits supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning — will position Ohio State to lead the way in meeting our patients where they are through state-of-the-art digital solutions.
Dr. Paz most recently served as executive vice president and chief medical officer at Aetna, where he provided clinical leadership for domestic and global businesses. Previously, he served as CEO of the Penn State University Hershey Medical Center, senior vice president for health affairs, dean of the College of Medicine and president/CEO of the Hershey Health System. He also has served as dean of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University and as CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Group.
He and his wife of nearly 40 years, Sharon Press, a clinical psychologist, have two adult daughters. In alignment with “practicing what he preaches,” Dr. Paz exercises each day, often running. He also enjoys sailing, skiing, biking and fishing.