Kevin W. Sowers, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N., is president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

As the second person in Johns Hopkins history to hold these dual roles, he oversees the health system’s six hospitals – The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, Suburban Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital – and sets strategies that advance the tripartite mission of delivering outstanding care, training the next generation of leaders, and advancing research and discovery. He also serves as chair of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, which has more than 40 primary and specialty care outpatient sites throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Mr. Sowers came to Johns Hopkins Medicine after 32 years with the Duke University Health System, where he spent the last eight as president and CEO of Duke University Hospital.

He joined Duke University Medical Center in 1985 as a staff nurse in oncology before receiving his MSH as an oncology clinical nurse specialist. At Duke, he held several faculty and nursing leadership positions. His numerous senior leadership posts across the Duke University Health System included serving as chief operating officer for Duke University Hospital and as interim CEO for what is now Duke Regional Hospital. Among his senior administrative roles, he oversaw the consolidation of Duke’s clinical lab services, emergency and trauma services, and managed care and patient care services.

Active in many professional and community organizations, he serves on the Maryland Hospital Association’s board and chairs its Council of Legislative and Regulatory Policy. He also serves on the board of Apella, an AI-based OR platform engineered to improve efficiency. Previously, Mr. Sowers was chair of the AmSurg board, a member of the North Carolina Hospital Association board of trustees, and served on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s board of directors. He also held leadership roles with the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen, and the Oncology Nursing Society.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Capital University School of Nursing and a Master of Science from Duke University School of Nursing. He is an American Academy of Nursing fellow and has collaborated on numerous research efforts and consulted internationally. He has published extensively and speaks nationally and abroad on issues such as leadership, organizational change, mentorship, and cancer care.

In 2020, he was recognized by the Columbia School of Business with the prestigious Deming Cup Award, which honors business leaders for outstanding merit in operations and for fostering a culture of continuous improvement within their organizations. In 2023 he was honored with the American Academy of Nursing’s Health Care Leader Award, which recognizes an influential national leader dedicated to improving the nation’s health through contributions to organizational excellence.