Kevin Sowers has been named president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine, effective Feb. 1. He comes to Johns Hopkins Medicine from Duke University Hospital, the flagship academic hospital for the Duke University Health System where he’s worked for 32 years, including the last eight as president and CEO of the hospital. Sowers began his career at Duke as an oncology nurse. At a press conference on Dec. 11, Sowers was asked the following questions about what inspired him to become a nurse, his goals for his new role at Johns Hopkins and what he loves most about Baltimore.
1. Why did you decide to become a nurse?
I grew up on a farm in rural Ohio and no one in my family had ever gone to college. I started in voice and piano. Because my family grew up below the poverty line, we did not have the resources to pay for me to go to college. So, I worked two jobs—in the morning I would go to the county nursing home and do music therapy. In the afternoon I was an orderly bathing people and putting them to bed. It was in those summer months I really found my passion for caring for human beings. Why I chose oncology is that while I was in nursing school my grandfather was diagnosed with glioblastoma. It was a difficult diagnosis with a difficult outcome. I remember our family did not have the best experience, so I wanted to be a nurse to make sure no other family went through what we went through.
2. What are the greatest challenges and opportunities moving from North Carolina to Maryland?
The greatest opportunity is more crab. Kidding aside, I think the greatest challenge is the challenge all academic health systems are facing today, and that is the value proposition. How do you take a system approach around assuring that your quality, the patient experience and the cost and efficiency are where they need to be? When I came here I wasn’t looking for a job, but after meeting people and thinking about the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds and biggest hearts in health care, it became an incredible opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
3. What are your goals in your new role?
My first goal is a listening tour because I don’t underestimate that I come to this organization not knowing everything. I need to partner with people and listen to where they are and what they believe are some of the next steps. That’s my short-term goal.
4. How will you advance Johns Hopkins’ diversity and inclusion efforts?
I have a very strong commitment to diversity. I believe you are as good as the team you put together, and I believe the team should represent the community you serve. I appointed the first all-female leadership team at Duke University Hospital (with the exception of myself). It is diversity of thought; not always diversity of race.
5. What do you love most about Baltimore?
More crab. I was serious about the crab. I like that it is a foodie town. We have had some really good food since we’ve been here. Most importantly, the people have been incredibly welcoming. I can’t say enough about how wonderful the people have been. It makes it much easier to make a move here.