George Brown led Portland’s eight-hospital Legacy Health for nine years where he oversaw record growth, increasing net revenue by $1 billion during his tenure. As CEO, Brown expanded into health insurance, developed the system’s urgent care offerings, led the addition of Randall Children’s Hospital and partnered with other Portland health systems to create the Unity Center for Behavioral Health. Additionally, Brown oversaw Legacy’s efforts to address homelessness, leading a group of five other Portland health organizations to fund a new clinic, mental health and addiction services, employment assistance and build 379 units of housing.
During his time at Legacy, the system grew to eight hospitals from six, achieved the largest market share in northwest Oregon and expanded its workforce by 40 percent to 12,000 employees, including significant medical staff growth. Brown’s tenure at Legacy was marked by high physician satisfaction and patient quality outcomes. Legacy also added 20 urgent care clinics under the Legacy-GoHealth banner.
Brown came to Legacy from MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, where he served as COO, after a long career as a gastroenterologist and service in the military. He received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, a year after he became a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He retired from active-duty service as Brigadier General.
Brown is the Board Chair of the Marshfield Clinic Health System, one of the largest private, multispecialty group practices in the United States, and previously served on the PacificSource Health Plans, which serves members in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the American College of Healthcare Executives.