Alumni Spotlight: Doug Boysen

In January, Iowa MHA program alumnus Doug Boysen (JD/MHA ’98) will become the new President and CEO of Samaritan Health Services in Corvallis, Oregon. 

A native Iowan, Doug’s career path is reflective of the emphasis he places on teamwork and collaboration. These values, born from his time on the University of Northern Iowa golf team, were reinforced in Iowa City, as the MHA program’s small size fostered close relationships with his peers and the curriculum placed a premium on teamwork. These values led him away from his first job at a health law firm in Wisconsin to Legacy Health in Portland, Oregon where he could work within a health system rather than representing systems from the outside.  

After several years in Portland, Doug accepted a position at Samaritan and served as General Counsel for eight years before returning to the Midwest and joining UnityPoint Health in Madison. His return was short-lived, however, as he was recruited to return to Corvallis to assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Samaritan––a role meant to ensure his smooth transition to President and CEO. 

In his current role, Doug began work on several projects that will continue into his new role, namely the construction of two new hospitals on the Oregon Coast. The new hospitals will be part of an integrated delivery system­––which includes five hospitals, over 90 ambulatory clinics, a health insurance company, and unique partnerships with Oregon State University and Western University of Health Sciences. Doug recognizes that traditional provider reimbursement is shrinking and changing, and he continues work on increasing organizational efficiency to reduce patient costs. In addition to the continuation of these expansive projects, Doug will undertake several new initiatives such as growing Samaritan’s health plan and the creative expansion of its numerous outpatient clinics via telehealth and other avenues.   

Reflecting on his time in the MHA program at the University of Iowa, one of the first memories recalled––the ropes course and zip line during Orientation Week––was indicative of the friendships and comradery with classmates that make the program so valuable. The foundational knowledge of the industry gained in classes have been instrumental to his successful career thus far, and the collaborative nature of the program remains influential in his leadership style. Most important, however, have been the friendships created that extend far beyond the scope of his career.

Doug visited Iowa City for September’s Alumni “Drive-In” and golf events. As a new member of the HMP Alumni Board, he is excited to help contribute to the positive feel and direction of the program’s future.