The newly appointed CEO, transitioning from a leadership role at Danaher Corp, brings over two decades of experience in the healthcare sector.

Summary: AdaptHealth Corp has announced the appointment of a new CEO, previously the president at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, part of Danaher Corp, effective May 20. The new CEO, with over 25 years in the healthcare industry, including roles at Cardinal Health At-Home Solutions and Stanley Healthcare, brings experience in medical devices, supply chain, and healthcare technology. She is expected to drive growth and capitalize on opportunities in chronic condition care at AdaptHealth. Richard Barasch, the interim CEO, will step down but continue as chairman of the board until June 30, thereafter serving as a special advisor. The search for a new board chair is underway.

Key Takeaways:

AdaptHealth Corp has named a new chief executive officer, who will take over from the interim CEO, Richard Barasch, on May 20. The new CEO comes from Danaher Corp where she served as the president of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.
The incoming CEO brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience, particularly in areas such as in-home care, life sciences, medical devices, supply chain, distribution, and healthcare technology. Her previous leadership roles include positions at Cardinal Health At-Home Solutions and Stanley Healthcare.
Following the transition, Richard Barasch will remain as chairman of the board until June 30, after which he will serve as a special advisor to the CEO at the request of the AdaptHealth board. The board is currently in the process of finding a new chairman. The new CEO aims to lead the company into its next phase of growth, focusing on chronic conditions like sleep apnea, obesity, and COPD.

AdaptHealth Corp, a provider of home medical equipment including CPAP and BiPAP equipment, has named Suzanne Foster as its chief executive officer.

Foster will assume leadership of the company from interim CEO and chairman of the board, Richard Barasch, on May 20.

A Background in Healthcare Leadership

Foster will join the company from Danaher Corp where she served as president of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a provider of biomedical technologies and laboratory instruments. Foster brings over 25 years of healthcare experience with a track record of leading growth businesses in the healthcare market, specifically in-home care, life sciences, medical devices, supply chain and distribution, and healthcare technology. Foster has a demonstrated history of delivering consistent growth and improving profitability, according to a release from AdaptHealth.

Previously, Foster served as the president of Cardinal Health At-Home Solutions, president of Stanley Healthcare, a Stanley Black & Decker business, and general manager of Medtronic Advanced Energy.

Foster holds an MPH in law and health policy from Harvard University and a JD from Suffolk University Law School.

“We are delighted to welcome Suzanne to AdaptHealth,” says Barasch in a release. “Our board conducted an extensive search and Suzanne stood out as the ideal candidate. I am confident that Suzanne has the skills and experiences to lead AdaptHealth as it solidifies its position in the epicenter of efforts to improve the health of people with chronic conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, obesity, and COPD.”

Foster adds in a release, “I am excited to join AdaptHealth and to lead the company into its next phase of growth, building on the positive momentum that has been established and capitalizing on the many opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to leveraging the lessons I have learned in my prior roles by working closely with the AdaptHealth team to execute on key initiatives and to continue to deliver value to the company’s customers and stakeholders.”

Leadership Transition and Continued Advisory

Following Barasch’s transition of leadership to Foster, he will remain as chairman of the board until June 30, when he will step down. After June 30, Barasch has agreed to serve as needed at the request of Foster and the AdaptHealth board of directors as a special advisor to the CEO. The Board of Directors is in the process of identifying a replacement board chair.

“We want to express our sincere appreciation to Richard for taking on the role of interim CEO,” says AdaptHealth director Dale Wolf in a release. “Under his leadership, the company delivered consistent results in our core business, strengthened the management team, and established a strategy to seize on value-based care opportunities. We are grateful for his dedication to AdaptHealth and know he is delivering a healthy business to Suzanne. As chairman, Richard has been invaluable in taking AdaptHealth from a private company to a public company, building a strong board of directors, and guiding the company toward success.”