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Christy Lemak
Developing leaders to shape tomorrow's health care
Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, FACHE, is a Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).12 She previously served as the Chair of the department and is currently the Deputy Director of the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation in the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine.12
Dr. Lemak's expertise lies in healthcare leadership, management, and high performance in healthcare organizations.1 Her research and teaching focus on developing organizations where all leaders can thrive, with a particular emphasis on supporting women and underrepresented populations in healthcare leadership.2 She has spearheaded initiatives such as the UAB Women in Healthcare Leadership and the UAB Academy for Addressing Health Disparities through Leadership.2
Some of Dr. Lemak's recent work includes:
- Examining leadership to accelerate healthcare's digital transformation1
- Evaluating a large physician pay-for-value program4
- Exploring career inflection points for women hospital CEOs4
Her academic background includes:
- PhD in Health Services Organization and Policy from the University of Michigan
- MHA and MBA degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia
- BS in Health Planning and Administration from the University of Illinois12
Dr. Lemak has held faculty positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Florida before joining UAB.2 She is actively involved in professional organizations, serving on the boards of Community Hospital Corporation (Plano, TX) and the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame.2 In 2022, she received the AUPHA Filerman Prize for Educational Leadership.1
Most recently, Dr. Lemak has been promoting the upcoming ACHE Congress, describing it as "an incredible chance to connect, find real solutions, and invest in yourself as a leader".3 She has also been discussing the integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare, highlighting its potential to improve outcomes, efficiency, and access to care while acknowledging the challenges it presents.5
