David W. Zaas, MD, MBA serves as Chief Executive Officer of Duke University Health System (DUHS), where he leads strategy, operations, and performance for one of the nation’s premier academic health systems, advancing excellence in patient care, research, and education. An accomplished leader with more than 20 years of executive experience, he has led complex, integrated organizations through growth, clinical transformation, and system integration. Across his career, he has held senior leadership roles at major academic medical centers, consistently driving performance, expanding access, and strengthening alignment across clinical, academic, and physician enterprise missions.

Most recently, Dr. Zaas served as President and CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and
Executive Vice President for Clinical Health Affairs at Wake Forest University, where he led a $6+ billion academic health system encompassing multiple hospitals, a medical school with two campuses, and a large multispecialty clinical network.

Previously, at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health, he served as System Chief Clinical Officer as well as CEO of both the MUSC Health Charleston Division and Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, with responsibility for a $2.4 billion clinical enterprise and approximately 15,000 teammates.

Earlier in his career at Duke Health, he held progressive leadership roles, including President of Duke Raleigh Hospital, Chief Medical Officer for the Duke Faculty Practice and Vice Chair for Clinical Practice in the Department of Medicine, contributing to significant clinical and academic growth as well as enterprise alignment. He started his career as an academic physician scientist focused on clinical and translational research to improve outcomes from lung transplantation while leading the world’s largest lung transplant program as the medical director for lung and heart-lung transplantation at Duke University Hospital. 

A pulmonary and critical care physician, Dr. Zaas earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from Northwestern University, and an MBA from Duke University. He completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and fellowship training at Duke University.

Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, an internationally recognized epidemiologist who has worked on the front lines of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 treatment and research, is the director of the Duke Global Health Institute.

Beyrer, who has worked on COVID-19 vaccine trials since 2020, currently serves as senior scientific liaison to the COVID-19 Vaccine Prevention Network. He is past president of the International AIDS Society, the world’s largest body of HIV professionals and has served as advisor to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research, the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Open Society Foundations, among numerous other organizations. The author of “War in the Blood: Sex, Politics and AIDS in Southeast Asia,” he has conducted collaborative research in Thailand for 30 years.

Before coming to Duke, Beyrer was the inaugural Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he also was a professor of epidemiology, international health, nursing and medicine. At Johns Hopkins, he directed the T32 Training Program in HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Science and served as associate director of the JHU Center for AIDS Research and the Center for Global Health. He was the founding director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights.

Beyrer received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2014 and serves on the Academy’s Board for Global Health, and on the Committee for Human Rights.

Megan Haymaker was named Assistant Vice President, Community Hospitals HR, Duke University Health System, in October 2025. Before that she served as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Duke Raleigh Hospital, a Campus of Duke University Hospital, and Interim Chief Human Resources Officer for the Duke University Health System Clinical Labs group.

Haymaker brings more than 18 years of healthcare experience to the team, with a strong background in healthcare, having previously served in a variety of HR leadership roles with Indiana University (IU) Health for over 15 years.

Haymaker is a tremendous asset to Duke Health and has participated in a number of key strategic HR initiatives to continue enhancing the value HR brings. She is a compassionate people-first leader who always seeks to understand the needs of our team members and holds a deep appreciation for the care they provide.

Dr. Ted Boyse, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer for Duke Raleigh Hospital, a Campus of Duke University Hospital. He was appointed as chief in July, 2022. Prior to this, Dr. Boyse served as Associate Chief Medical Officer for one year.

Over the past 18 years, Dr. Boyse has made important and varied contributions to Duke Health System. He has held multiple leadership roles at Duke Raleigh Hospital, including eleven years as part of the hospital’s medical executive committee, holding the roles of department chair, president elect, and president.

Dr. Boyse is known and recognized for his commitment to valuing and developing people while creating effective care environments through process improvements. He brings unique insight into how Duke Raleigh can best grow and support its medical staff, expand services, and further Duke Health’s commitment to delivering the best patient care.

Dr. Boyse earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, completed his Radiology Residency at the University of Michigan and his Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology in St. Louis.

Ian Lee Brown, DMH serves as Chief Community Health and Social Impact Officer for Duke University Health System, where he leads enterprise-wide strategies for community health, social impact, and cross-sector partnerships that advance care that is accessible, responsive, and grounded in community needs, population health, and whole-person care.

With more than two decades of leadership experience, Ian has held senior roles across academic medical centers, health systems, senior living, affordable housing, finance, and social-impact organizations. His career is grounded in early work in community health and development in the Washington, DC region, where he led community and political affairs, volunteer services, pastoral care, and nationally recognized violence-prevention initiatives.

At Duke Health, Ian has previously served as Chief Employee Experience Officer and Interim Associate Vice President for Community Health, overseeing employee experience, employee listening, change management, organizational culture, belonging, workforce well-being, professionalism, and workplace violence prevention, as well as community health assessments, community benefit portfolios, and multi-sector coalitions.

Ian holds a Doctor of Medical and Health Humanities and a Contemplative Professional Graduate Certificate from Drew University; a Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science and Organizational Development and a Graduate Certificate in Senior Living and Healthcare from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School; a Master of Liberal Studies from Lake Forest College; and completed his undergraduate education at Brooklyn College. He has additional training in Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. In recognition of his leadership and impact, Ian was named an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Influential Leader in 2022 and a Distinguished Johns Hopkins University alumnus in 2025.

An immigrant from Jamaica, Ian brings a community-rooted, interdisciplinary approach to advancing equitable health outcomes.

Leigh Bleecker is the Assistant Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Duke Raleigh Hospital, a Campus of Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Lake Norman Hospital. She has been a part of the Duke Health Finance team since 2002. Leigh has also had the privilege of serving as Interim President of Duke Raleigh Hospital on two occasions.

Prior to joining Duke Health, Bleecker worked as a financial consultant with OSI Systems in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a native of North Carolina, originally from Fayetteville.
She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MBA and MHA from Georgia State University.

In 2007, Bleecker received the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award and was named CFO of the Year in 2012. She is active in community outreach and serves on several community boards, including current board member of Urban Ministries of Wake County, member of Holt Brothers Foundation, former treasurer and board chair of InterAct of Wake County, and former NC Commissioner of Tryon Palace. Bleecker began volunteering in 2001 as a camp counselor for Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for children with cancer and still serves in that role today.

Andrew Gross, MD, is a neurologist/neuro-ophthalmologist who started his career at Lake Norman in 2014 in his hometown of Mooresville, North Carolina. He has served on and chaired several committees as well as Chief of Staff before being appointed as the initial Chief Medical Officer of Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital.

He has among the longest histories with the hospital where he had his first job as a pharmacy technician at the age of 15. Dr. Gross practices general inpatient and outpatient neurology with focus on neuro-ophthalmology and aviation medicine. He is also an aviation medical examiner and serves as a neurological consultant to the FAA. His family is local, and he often shares patients with his father, a family physician, and his sister, an optometrist. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two small children.

Dr. Gross earned his medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed his residency at New York University and Harvard/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for his neuro-ophthalmology fellowship.

Leigh Whitfield is an accomplished healthcare communications and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, hospital operations, brand development, and community engagement. She has a proven track record of leading high‑impact initiatives that enhance the patient experience, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and support organizational growth.

Prior to joining Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital, Leigh held senior leadership roles at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Davis Regional Medical Center. In these roles, she led comprehensive marketing and communications strategies, managed crisis communications, and directed community outreach efforts that elevated organizational visibility and trust.

Leigh is actively engaged in community service and governance, serving on the boards of several nonprofit and community organizations, including United Way of Iredell County and HealthReach Community Clinic. She previously served as vice chair of the Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees and as a member of the Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education. Her leadership and community contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the Sara Haire Tice Women in Leadership Award.

Leigh holds a Master of Business Administration from Gardner‑Webb University and a Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television & Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With 35 years of nursing experience, Miranda has a proven track record of leadership at Duke University Hospital, where she has successfully optimized patient flow and placement processes, leading to significant improvements in operational efficiency and patient care. Previously, she served as a Nurse Manager over the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) where she oversaw day-to-day operations while ensuring high-quality care for critically ill patients.

Miranda previously served as COD of Patient Flow at Duke University Hospital, focusing on optimizing the Transfer Center and Patient Placement processes for a Level 1 Trauma center across three facilities with 1600 beds.

Colleen Shannon is the Vice President of Compliance and Administration at Duke University Health System (DUHS). She is responsible for implementing and overseeing the Health System’s compliance and privacy programs and facilitating the DUHS enterprise risk management process. Shannon also coordinates activities with the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP) and School of Medicine leadership to advance our collaboration and prioritize services. Shannon reports to the DUHS Compliance/Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and Health Affairs Chancellor and DUHS President and CEO. Shannon co-chairs the DUHS Privacy and Security Steering Committee and administers various facilities’ compliance committees. 

Shannon joined DUHS in July 2007 and has 26 years of health care regulatory experience. Prior to joining DUHS, Shannon was the Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer for OhioHealth, an integrated multi-hospital health system in Columbus, Ohio. Shannon served as a Regulatory and Licensing Attorney for Cole Managed Vision, a 50 state vision benefit administrator, developing its privacy program at the inception of HIPAA privacy regulations. She also served in multiple positions within The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, including staff counsel, Chief Operating Officer of Lakewood Hospital and Chief Integration Officer, Western Region, Cleveland Clinic. 

Shannon is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. Shannon served as Chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Compliance Officers’ Forum (COF) and established the AAMC COF, Privacy Committee. Shannon serves as a member of American Association Hospital, Chief Compliance Officer Forum and is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and Association of American Medical Colleges Compliance Officers’ Forum.

Kristie Barazsu is an experienced healthcare executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in hospital operations, patient flow, and support services. In April 2025, she was appointed President and COO of Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital after serving in the interim role during the transition of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center into Duke Health, with the completion of the hospital acquisition April 1, 2025.

Kristie most recently served as the associate chief operating officer at Duke University Hospital, overseeing Emergency Services, Patient Flow, and Support Services, including a Level 1 trauma center and Life Flight operations. She has a demonstrated history of success in driving operational efficiency, reducing labor costs, and enhancing patient care delivery. Her leadership has led to multimillion-dollar savings, improved patient throughput, and system-wide adoption of innovative operational structures. She has also played a pivotal role in pandemic response and hospital integration efforts.

Prior to Duke, Kristie held several leadership roles at Michigan Medicine, including Surgical Services Administrator and Psychiatry Hospital Services Administrator. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Management from Albion College and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

Lisa M. Goodlett, CPA, MBA, FACHE, is the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer for Duke University Health System (DUHS). Goodlett joined DUHS in the spring of 2024. In this role, Goodlett is a thought leader in designing and funding various growth and partnership opportunities, while working in concert with the DUHS senior executive team to enhance fiscal stewardship in meaningful and applicable ways. Goodlett is ultimately responsible for the overall financial integrity of DUHS – a highly complex, integrated system of care.

Prior to joining Duke, Goodlett served as the System Chief Financial Officer for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), an integrated health system with over 750 care locations and 16 hospitals throughout South Carolina. MUSC grew from $2.4B to over $5.7B during her seven-year tenure.

Goodlett holds an accounting degree from Clemson University in conjunction with a master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina and is a certified public accountant. Goodlett has served as a Baldrige Performance Excellence Examiner through the Department of Commerce.

Jason A. Carter is the President and Chief Operating Officer for Duke Regional Hospital and joined the team in November, 2023. Jason has more than 15 years of senior management experience working for healthcare organizations across North Carolina and the Southeast.

Prior to joining Duke Regional, Jason served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Maryland Medical System where he managed clinical and non-clinical operations of the medical center and its ambulatory operations.

Jason received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Appalachian State University, and his master's degree in Business Administration from Winston-Salem State University. He was born and raised in North Carolina.

Dr. Brian Burrows, MD, is the interim Chief Medical Officer for Duke Regional Hospital. He was appointed to this role in November, 2024.

Dr. Burrows has spent the past 14 years with Duke University Health System, most recently serving as the ED Medical Director and Chair for Duke Regional Hospital, since 2019. 

Dr. Burrows is known for his exceptional leadership, and for developing key continuous improvement initiatives. He has spearheaded numerous patient flow processes in the Emergency Department (ED), and during the COVID-19 pandemic he co-led the development and operational structure of the new Behavioral Health ED adjacent to the hospital. 

Dr. Burrows earned his medical degree from East Carolina University in 2010, and completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center in 2013.

Morgan Jones, MSPH, FACHE is the Chief Strategy Officer at Duke University Health System. In her role, she is responsible for leading clinical enterprise strategic planning, business development and growth, strategic intelligence, project management, and consumer insights.

Jones has focused her career on expanding access to high quality healthcare. In her prior work she crafted legislation to create a High-Risk Insurance Pool for the state of North Carolina which provided insurance to uninsured and underinsured North Carolinians; at the Department of Veterans Affairs she led creation of a Regional Crisis Call Center, was instrumental in establishing the Office of Rural Health, and also served as a key strategic and administrative leader in VA hospitals. Over the past decade she has provided strategic leadership and guidance to Duke, through development of an Ambulatory Network and partnerships which resulted in servicing new geographies and a doubling of patients across broader geographies.

Jones also serves on the Academy Chief Strategy Officer Forum, as past President Elect with the Southeast Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and Fellow and Board Member of the Carol Emmott Foundation. She has been recognized as a Triangle Business Journal “40 Under 40”, Modern Healthcare “Emerging Leader”, North Carolina State Impact award winner, Bernstein Scholar, and Carol Emmott awardee.

Jones holds a Master of Science in Public Health in Hospital Administration and Health Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Darcel F. Walker is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with a proven track record in strategic leadership and cross-functional communication. With extensive experience in healthcare marketing, Darcel has led initiatives that enhance brand visibility, optimize media strategies, and drive organizational growth.

In previous roles at CaroMont Health, Darcel managed multimillion-dollar budgets, led brand campaigns, and executed integrated marketing strategies. Her experience includes oversight of digital platforms, corporate communications, and media production, with a strong focus on maximizing brand impact and supporting organizational priorities. Additionally, Darcel has contributed to academic institutions as an adjunct instructor and held leadership roles in community service organizations, including the Junior League of Gaston County and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.

Darcel holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America. In her free time, Darcel enjoys traveling and is learning to play golf.

David Gallagher, MD, SFHM, is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Duke University Hospital, bringing more than 25 years of extensive experience in physician leadership roles. As CMO, he plays a pivotal role within Duke University Hospital's senior leadership team, actively contributing to the institution's strategic direction and objectives.

Before assuming the role of CMO at Duke University Hospital, Gallagher served as the Chief of Duke Hospital Medicine Programs and Associate CMO. He received his MD degree from George Washington University, followed by the completion of internal medicine residency at the University of California San Francisco. He joined Duke in 2006, after previously holding leadership positions in Hospital Medicine at Sutter Health in Sacramento, CA.

Gallagher is a Professor of Medicine at Duke University, with a career focus on the Clinician Leader - Administrator track, emphasizing clinical practice advancement. Gallagher's scholarly work encompasses a range of topics, including hospital readmissions reduction, venous thromboembolism risk assessment, physical activity promotion for hospitalized elderly patients, and enhancement of hospital workflow processes.

Gallagher remains actively involved in clinical practice as a hospitalist, fulfilling his role as an attending physician for Duke Hospital General Medicine Teaching Services, where he provides patient care. He is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine and has earned recognition as a Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) through the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Sheryl Thompson, MBA, CPA, serves as Vice President of Clinical Care Finance for Duke University Health System (DUHS) and Divisional Chief Financial Officer for Duke University Hospital (DUH). In this role, Thompson’s responsibilities include a wide range of activities supporting the hospital entities within DUHS, including monthly financial reporting, budget, capital, business planning & implementation, revenue management, and support of clinical laboratories finance.

Thompson also works in collaboration with the clinical departments of the School of Medicine on evolving funds flow, and on routine operating budgets and transactions with the Faculty Practice Plan - with a focus area of contracting for physician services and collaboration on business development.

Prior to joining Duke, Thompson served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Memorial Hermann Health System – Katy & Cypress Hospitals in Katy and Cypress, Texas.

Thompson received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and her MBA from North Carolina State University.

Thompson is originally from Houston, Texas and currently resides in Durham, NC with her husband and their son.