Dr. Patrick Lee, a practicing internal medicine physician and most recently the system chairman of New York low-income hospital system One Brooklyn Health, was selected by the board of managers after a six-month national search. Lee is a graduate of Princeton University, the University of California and San Francisco School of Medicine, and he received training at Massachusetts General and Harvard Medical School, according to a news release.
Lee succeeds Mike Geeslin, who will finish serving his six-year tenure as CEO on Dec. 31. Lee will begin his role on Jan. 29.
The context
Lee will begin his new role following a controversial year regarding Central Health’s budget, performance and an ongoing legal battle with Ascension Seton that’s persisted since January.
In late September, Travis County commissioners approved Central Health’s $744 million budget—an 18.4% year-over-year increase—after over a week of delay. The budget will fund Central Health’s seven-year Healthcare Equity Plan, which includes 150 projects to improve health care access to Travis County’s low-income residents.
Lee will guide Central Health through the Healthcare Equity Plan project implementation as well as navigate the results of a roughly $850,000 performance audit of the organization that was approved by Travis County commissioners in July 2022. The audit results will be released in 2024.
In their own words
“If we can deliver on this mandate—and I believe we can—then we will lead the transformation of the health care system in Travis County,” Lee said in a news release. “We will go first when someone needs to take the first step. We will set the standard of excellence and inspire and assist others to join us as we raise the bar. We will make good on the trust invested in us. With deep listening, focus, and strong partnerships, we will aim to significantly reduce health disparities in Travis County on my watch.”
