Dr. Ron J. Anderson

President, Chief Executive Officer

Parkland Health & Hospital System

Dr. Ron J. Anderson began his career caring for many patients each day. Now, he oversees the care for thousands of patients a day. However, milestones in career clearly illustrate that he has impacted the health care of millions.

Dr. Anderson’s “official” title is president and chief executive officer of Parkland Health & Hospital System, one of the premier public hospitals in the U.S. and is one of the largest.

In 1973, Dr. Ron J. Anderson came to Parkland to simply finish his internship. Yet 36 years later he is still just as dedicated to the mission of helping the medically underserved. From intern, Dr. Anderson later served as medical director of ambulatory and emergency services and in 1982 was named president and CEO of Parkland.

Yet Dr. Anderson has always sought out much more work outside the scope of his job description for the chance to better help those in need. Dr. Anderson has long championed causes that improve health care for the medically underserved and, as a result, he has become one of the nation’s leading advocates of health care for the poor.

Throughout his career he has provided sound advice and experience to legislators of both parties regarding health care issues. He has served on the National Health Policy Initiative to advise the White House on health care issues as well. Since 1992, he has served on the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

His vision of health care for all, regardless of ability to pay, and his desire to see that happen have led to groundbreaking changes to the U.S. health care system. In 1985, he played a major role in the passage of landmark legislation concerning indigent health care in Texas that banned “patient dumping.” Dr. Anderson quickly became a national spokesperson on this issue and his work ultimately led to the passage of federal legislation signed into law April 7, 1986, by President Ronald Reagan.

However, Dr. Anderson is quick to credit any success at Parkland to the support of the Dallas County community and the hospital’s dedicated doctors, nurses and staff. He is a true believer in servant leadership and strives to set an example of leadership by serving others, whether they be patients or coworkers. He approaches his work with a sense of responsibility to help and a genuine desire to serve others.