Cambridge, Mar 06: Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tabb, MD, has announced that he will step down from his role in a year after more than 14 years of leadership across the system and its predecessor healthcare organizations. Dr. Tabb informed the BILH Board of Trustees of his decision and will continue serving as President and CEO until a successor is appointed and a smooth leadership transition is completed.
Dr. Tabb has led BILH since its formation in 2019, guiding the successful integration of the healthcare system and establishing it as one of New England’s largest and most trusted health networks. Today, the system includes 14 hospitals and more than 42,000 employees, including over 4,800 physicians, serving approximately 1.7 million patients annually. Under his leadership, BILH united academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, community hospitals, and specialty facilities under a shared mission to expand access to high-quality care and improve patient experiences across the region.
During his tenure, Dr. Tabb advanced initiatives focused on improving care coordination, expanding behavioral health services, strengthening population health programs, and delivering care closer to communities. He also led the health system through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with a coordinated response that ensured patient safety while maintaining essential services.
“Working alongside our extraordinary community of caregivers has been one of the great privileges of my life,” said Dr. Tabb. “Now is the right time for the organization to begin its search for the next leader. We have never been stronger or more united in our purpose.”
Ann-Ellen Hornidge, Chair of the BILH Board of Trustees, praised Dr. Tabb’s contributions, noting that his leadership helped shape the organization’s culture, strengthen partnerships, and expand patient-centered care across the system.
Under Dr. Tabb’s leadership, BILH significantly expanded access to healthcare services, with nearly two-thirds of care now delivered in community settings. The system also increased its primary care workforce by 30% over the past four years, improving access for patients seeking care.
BILH has also strengthened its academic and research mission through affiliations with Harvard Medical School and a new teaching partnership with UMass Chan School of Medicine. Dr. Tabb also played a key role in the development of a major cancer care collaboration between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute aimed at advancing oncology care in the region.
Prior to leading BILH, Dr. Tabb served as Chief Executive Officer of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center starting in 2011 and previously held leadership roles at Stanford Hospital & Clinics and GE Healthcare.
Dr. Tabb has also played an influential role in shaping healthcare policy in Massachusetts, including serving as Board Chair of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association.
Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, praised Dr. Tabb’s leadership, noting his role in strengthening healthcare across the state and supporting communities during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Tabb will continue to lead BILH over the next year as the Board of Trustees conducts a national search for his successor. The search process is expected to take approximately 8–10 months and will be supported by the board’s executive committee and an external search firm.
The leadership transition marks the culmination of a distinguished career focused on advancing patient care, expanding access to healthcare, and building integrated health systems that prioritize the patient experience.