Rick Merrill "Be a Top Healthcare CEO"

Every dentist is the CEO of his or her practice.  Learn from one of America's top healthcare CEO's how to lead effectively to create enthusiasm around a compelling purpose and build a work environment that patients and team members rave about.

As president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System for the past five years, Rick Merrill led the organization at a time of unprecedented growth; including the historic expansion of Cook Children’s Medical Center which nearly doubled the size of the campus to respond to the growing need for its services. Under Rick’s leadership, Cook Children’s began a new era by streamlining its mission and vision into a Promise to improve the health of every child in the region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury.

As a not-for-profit, nationally recognized pediatric healthcare organization, Cook Children’s was named one of the top places to work in healthcare nationally by Modern Healthcare in 2012.  It has also been named as one of the top Childrens’ Hospitals in the Nation by U.S. News and World Report.  It is comprised of eight entities – a Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services, Inc., and Health Foundation. Cook Children’s has more than 60 primary and specialty care offices throughout North Texas.

As a leader with more than 27 years of healthcare experience, Rick has vast experience in for-profit, not-for-profit and public health care facilities and serves on numerous national, state and community advisory boards. Rick is married with two daughters.