Kenneth Kozel

President and CEO
University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

Kenneth Kozel, president and CEO of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, has dedicated his 13-year tenure to transforming health care delivery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

As leader of the regional health system that is part of the University of Maryland Medical System, Kozel focuses on advancing the organization’s vision of becoming a national thought leader in health care transformation.

Under Kozel’s leadership, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health continues to advance its mission of providing high-quality, compassionate care while adapting to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

What’s the most important thing you do?

The most important thing I do is to help the University of Maryland Medical System execute on our vision of becoming a national thought leader in the transformation of health care. We accomplish this transformation through our mission by advancing our foundational principles of providing compassionate and high-quality care and by demonstrating a commitment to our community.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The business lesson I have learned in my career, repeatedly, is the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships. Health care is a complex organization and transforming the way we provide health care is incredibly challenging. With strong relationships, built on trust, integrity and collaboration, anything is possible.

What’s the most significant challenge facing our state?

I believe the most significant challenge facing our state is the mental health crisis we are experiencing in every one of our communities. A lack of sufficient and coordinated resources is resulting in many of our most vulnerable citizens not receiving the timely and on-going care they need. With a vision towards transformation and strong partnerships, I know we can address this challenge head on.

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This profile is part of The Daily Record's Power 100 List for 2024. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com.