Alumni/ae Spotlight

Jeff Dorsey (MHA '73)

Interviewed by Jamia M. Thomas (MHA '05)

Founded in 1995, HealthONE is a 50/50 joint venture owned by HealthONE Alliance, which happens to be a Colorado-based, non-profit organization and HCA Inc. This is an innovative and unique health delivery system. Encompassing 9,000 employees, seven hospitals, and more than 50 outpatient care sites, along with 3,000 affiliated physicians, HealthONE is the metro area’s largest health care provider. Under the direction of the Board of Governors, HealthOne seeks to be an ethical, compassionate healthcare organization that is committed to the care an improvement of life. Who is the driving force behind such an innovative, cutting edge health system? Introducing Mr. Jeff Dorsey, President and CEO of the HCA-Continental Division.

Mr. Dorsey was born on March 15, 1949 and grew up along with his 2 brothers in Cleveland, Ohio. But let’s “fast forward” some years to the MHA program at VCU (then MCV), where Mr. Dorsey graduated in 1973. He reminisces about the “many wonderful times spent in both study and leisure with my classmates.” Now, I know current students chuckle at the time spent in “leisure” with their classmates, but it was the 70’s… peace and love, right? Over 20 years ago, fresh out of school, and excited about the future, Jeff Dorsey entered in to the health field bright-eyed and filled with expectation. When asked about the changes that he has seen during his career, he mentions the exponential growth in technological advances, especially in imaging and surgical instrumentation, as well as the enormous growth in outpatient services.

Why healthcare? When given this question, Mr. Dorsey said that due to the variety of issues that healthcare administrator faces each day and that the result of your hard work is, hopefully, the betterment of the individuals in need of healthcare. That is why healthcare.

Now, it is one thing to be an administrator of a major hospital system, but what about a health system in Colorado? I don’t know about you, but I have been spoiled by the mild Virginia weather. Ok, Virginia did see some snow storms that caused delays and closing of some of the areas business, even causing delays for hospital staff. How is healthcare delivery in Colorado affected by their harsh winters and weather patterns? I’m sure this not a question that is asked everyday to a CEO, but this was something that I thought would be of some interest to my fellow MHA colleagues that have the opportunity to have a residency placement in Colorado at this site. Mr. Dorsey was gracious enough to comment by saying that from time to time, especially this year, “… we will have weather so severe that our physicians and employees end up spending days in the hospital due to the inability of getting people back and forth to the hospital.” Now that is continuous care.

When asked about his predictions about health care, Mr. Dorsey was candid when he said that he doesn’t have any predictions, but he is confident that future administrators will see the same or greater change in the next 30 years that he has seen in the past 30 years. Mr. Dorsey will continue to drive the HealthONE system towards excellence and the fulfillment of the mission, all while reading one his favorite books, From the Gut by Jack Welch.