Our Team

Experience that inspires

Virginia Mason Institute team members are experienced and accomplished experts in preparing, guiding and inspiring healthcare leaders to transform healthcare. As current and former healthcare executive leaders, physician executives, providers, and high-level managers, and through their success working with healthcare systems and leaders around the world, our team has unparalleled knowledge and skill in improving patient safety, patient experience, and the quality, cost, and delivery of healthcare.

With their background in systems transformation and a foundation in Virginia Mason’s world-renowned management methodology, our team members’ approach is to partner with healthcare leaders to achieve sustainable improvement, and to solve today’s and tomorrow’s problems.

Leadership

Ketul J. Patel, CEO, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President, Northwest Region, CommonSpirit Health

Ketul J. Patel, CEO, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President, Northwest Region, CommonSpirit Health

Ketul J. Patel is CEO, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President, Northwest Region, CommonSpirit Health. He most recently served as Division President of the PNW and CEO of CHI Franciscan, responsible for strategy network development and growth as well as overall operational management for the multi-state regional healthcare system. Previously, Patel served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Chief Operations Officer at Hackensack University Health Network and Hackensack University Medical Center located in northern New Jersey. His more than two decades of leadership experience also include executive roles with major health systems in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and San Diego. Patel has been honored regionally and nationally for his influence in healthcare.

Ketul J. Patel is CEO, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President, Northwest Region, CommonSpirit Health. He most recently served as Division President of the PNW and CEO of CHI Franciscan, responsible for strategy network development and growth as well as overall operational management for the multi-state regional healthcare system. Previously, Patel served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Chief Operations Officer at Hackensack University Health Network and Hackensack University Medical Center located in northern New Jersey. His more than two decades of leadership experience also include executive roles with major health systems in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and San Diego. Patel has been honored regionally and nationally for his influence in healthcare.

Ingrid Gerbino, MD, FACP, VP and Chief Innovation Officer, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Ingrid Gerbino, MD, FACP, VP and Chief Innovation Officer, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Ingrid Gerbino, MD, FACP, is Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Dr. Gerbino provides oversight for the strategic vision and continued development of Virginia Mason Institute and for the Kaizen Promotion Office and innovation strategy at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. She served as Chief for the Department of Primary Care at Virginia Mason from 2016 to 2021. She joined Virginia Mason in 1995, practicing general internal medicine and serving in various medical leadership roles and as Senior Physician Sensei for Virginia Mason Institute where she coached providers on effectively incorporating key elements of the Virginia Mason Production System® into their practice. Dr. Gerbino is a Kaizen Fellow graduate in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Ingrid Gerbino, MD, FACP, is Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Dr. Gerbino provides oversight for the strategic vision and continued development of Virginia Mason Institute and for the Kaizen Promotion Office and innovation strategy at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. She served as Chief for the Department of Primary Care at Virginia Mason from 2016 to 2021. She joined Virginia Mason in 1995, practicing general internal medicine and serving in various medical leadership roles and as Senior Physician Sensei for Virginia Mason Institute where she coached providers on effectively incorporating key elements of the Virginia Mason Production System® into their practice. Dr. Gerbino is a Kaizen Fellow graduate in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

 Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Ed.D., M.S., Executive Director

Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Ed.D., M.S., Executive Director

Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Ed.D., M.S., is Executive Director at Virginia Mason Institute. Wendy provides leadership and oversees the development of new products and services to strategically assess, identify improvement opportunities, develop and implement transformation and transition plans, and continually evaluate continuous improvement for clients worldwide. Wendy holds significant experience developing and implementing large scale transformation and transition plans. Wendy came to Virginia Mason Institute from Deloitte Consulting, and spent several years prior with the Washington State Governor’s Office where she led state government transformation through the development and implementation of Results Washington, a performance improvement initiative incorporating 53 state government agencies, boards and commissions across five priority goal areas. She worked with Virginia Mason early on in her career as a leadership development consultant. Wendy is trained in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Ed.D., M.S., is Executive Director at Virginia Mason Institute. Wendy provides leadership and oversees the development of new products and services to strategically assess, identify improvement opportunities, develop and implement transformation and transition plans, and continually evaluate continuous improvement for clients worldwide. Wendy holds significant experience developing and implementing large scale transformation and transition plans. Wendy came to Virginia Mason Institute from Deloitte Consulting, and spent several years prior with the Washington State Governor’s Office where she led state government transformation through the development and implementation of Results Washington, a performance improvement initiative incorporating 53 state government agencies, boards and commissions across five priority goal areas. She worked with Virginia Mason early on in her career as a leadership development consultant. Wendy is trained in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Gordon Sansaver, MBA, Associate Executive Director

Gordon Sansaver, MBA, Associate Executive Director

Gordon Sansaver, MBA, is Associate Executive Director at Virginia Mason Institute. Gordon oversees the Institute’s partnerships in Europe while also holding responsibility for the global operations of the organization. He is an expert in strategic planning, culture change and project management and also has over a decade of experience in empowering and facilitating teams to realize meaningful and sustained improvement. Prior to joining Virginia Mason Institute, Gordon served as an expert in Virginia Mason’s management system and quality improvement methodology – focusing on teaching, coaching and partnering with leadership to improve quality and reduce waste across the organization. In that capacity, he led numerous improvement projects and helped to achieve meaningful change in areas across the health system – including primary and specialty ambulatory, inpatient, and emergency care; facilities, supply chain, human resources, and finance. He is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Gordon Sansaver, MBA, is Associate Executive Director at Virginia Mason Institute. Gordon oversees the Institute’s partnerships in Europe while also holding responsibility for the global operations of the organization. He is an expert in strategic planning, culture change and project management and also has over a decade of experience in empowering and facilitating teams to realize meaningful and sustained improvement. Prior to joining Virginia Mason Institute, Gordon served as an expert in Virginia Mason’s management system and quality improvement methodology – focusing on teaching, coaching and partnering with leadership to improve quality and reduce waste across the organization. In that capacity, he led numerous improvement projects and helped to achieve meaningful change in areas across the health system – including primary and specialty ambulatory, inpatient, and emergency care; facilities, supply chain, human resources, and finance. He is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Brenda McLeod, MBA, CCMP, PMP, Principal Executive Partner, Engagement Operations

Brenda McLeod, MBA, CCMP, PMP, Principal Executive Partner, Engagement Operations

Brenda McLeod, MBA, CCMP, PMP, provides leadership and oversight in supporting our clients and expanding our service offerings and content in the change management space. She has over 25 years’ experience in consulting, strategic planning, change management, project management, leadership, and facilitation for privately-held companies, corporations and the public sector. She has been recognized for an outstanding ability to help businesses identify goals, guiding principles and roadmap to achieve operational objectives and ROI. An effective facilitator in helping business lines identify current and future states with the ability to bring together people, process and technology. Brenda has her Masters of Business Administration, IT Management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as one of the first 88 in the world to be a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). She is a strategic planner with a keen sense for relationship management, executive coaching and process improvement.

Brenda McLeod, MBA, CCMP, PMP, provides leadership and oversight in supporting our clients and expanding our service offerings and content in the change management space. She has over 25 years’ experience in consulting, strategic planning, change management, project management, leadership, and facilitation for privately-held companies, corporations and the public sector. She has been recognized for an outstanding ability to help businesses identify goals, guiding principles and roadmap to achieve operational objectives and ROI. An effective facilitator in helping business lines identify current and future states with the ability to bring together people, process and technology. Brenda has her Masters of Business Administration, IT Management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as one of the first 88 in the world to be a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). She is a strategic planner with a keen sense for relationship management, executive coaching and process improvement.

Partners and Physician/Executive Advisors

Celeste Derheimer, MBA, RN, CPHQ, Senior Partner, Transformation Services

Celeste Derheimer, MBA, RN, CPHQ, Senior Partner, Transformation Services

Celeste Derheimer, MBA, RN, CPHQ, is a Senior Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. In Seattle and at client sites worldwide, she leads multiple improvement activities to increase safety and quality and improve administrative processes. Celeste is a Kaizen Fellow graduate certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®. She is also an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Celeste Derheimer, MBA, RN, CPHQ, is a Senior Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. In Seattle and at client sites worldwide, she leads multiple improvement activities to increase safety and quality and improve administrative processes. Celeste is a Kaizen Fellow graduate certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®. She is also an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Val Ferris, RN, ELMBA, Executive Partner, Transformation Services

Val Ferris, RN, ELMBA, Executive Partner, Transformation Services

Val Ferris, RN, ELMBA, is an Executive Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. Her passion is to work collaboratively with leadership and teams to improve quality for patients and staff. Prior to her work at Virginia Mason Institute, Val’s leadership experience includes perioperative and procedural services, emergency department, hospitalist services, and Kaizen Promotion Office. As an improvement leader, she has sponsored and led efforts to reduce hospital, surgical, procedural and emergency department lead time. She has led multiple flow (3P) workshops to assist with the design of inpatient units, surgical facilities and future state processes for the hospital. Val is a Kaizen Fellow graduate in the Virginia Mason Production System and 3P (Production, Preparation, Process) facilitation.

Val Ferris, RN, ELMBA, is an Executive Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. Her passion is to work collaboratively with leadership and teams to improve quality for patients and staff. Prior to her work at Virginia Mason Institute, Val’s leadership experience includes perioperative and procedural services, emergency department, hospitalist services, and Kaizen Promotion Office. As an improvement leader, she has sponsored and led efforts to reduce hospital, surgical, procedural and emergency department lead time. She has led multiple flow (3P) workshops to assist with the design of inpatient units, surgical facilities and future state processes for the hospital. Val is a Kaizen Fellow graduate in the Virginia Mason Production System and 3P (Production, Preparation, Process) facilitation.

Sarah Patterson, MHA, FACMPE, Principal Executive Partner, Transformation Services

Sarah Patterson, MHA, FACMPE, Principal Executive Partner, Transformation Services

Sarah Patterson, MHA, FACMPE, is a Principal Executive Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. Sarah is an executive sensei who coaches executive teams worldwide to lead lean implementation and transform healthcare. Sarah has been a member of the leadership team at Virginia Mason Medical Center for over 30 years, most recently serving as the executive vice president and chief operating officer. She has held responsibility for all operations of the clinic and hospital along with the kaizen promotion office, human resources, quality and compliance, facilities and pharmaceutical services.

Sarah Patterson, MHA, FACMPE, is a Principal Executive Partner of Transformation Services at Virginia Mason Institute. Sarah is an executive sensei who coaches executive teams worldwide to lead lean implementation and transform healthcare. Sarah has been a member of the leadership team at Virginia Mason Medical Center for over 30 years, most recently serving as the executive vice president and chief operating officer. She has held responsibility for all operations of the clinic and hospital along with the kaizen promotion office, human resources, quality and compliance, facilities and pharmaceutical services.

Stephen Rupp, MD, Emeritus Anesthesiologist, Virginia Mason Health System

Stephen Rupp, MD, Emeritus Anesthesiologist, Virginia Mason Health System

Stephen Rupp, MD, is an emeritus anesthesiologist with a distinguished career as medical director of perioperative and procedural services at Virginia Mason Health System. He also served as the chief of the anesthesiology department at Virginia Mason from 1992 through 2009. Dr. Rupp was the chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists task force on development of guidelines for central venous access and is a past president of the Association of Anesthesiology Core Program Directors. He was also a core faculty member for the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Annual Quality Management meeting (2013-2016). He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan. His internship, residency in anesthesiology and research fellowship in neuromuscular pharmacology were completed at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Rupp is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Stephen Rupp, MD, is an emeritus anesthesiologist with a distinguished career as medical director of perioperative and procedural services at Virginia Mason Health System. He also served as the chief of the anesthesiology department at Virginia Mason from 1992 through 2009. Dr. Rupp was the chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists task force on development of guidelines for central venous access and is a past president of the Association of Anesthesiology Core Program Directors. He was also a core faculty member for the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Annual Quality Management meeting (2013-2016). He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan. His internship, residency in anesthesiology and research fellowship in neuromuscular pharmacology were completed at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Rupp is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Charleen Tachibana, DNP, RN, SVP and Chief Quality, Safety and Patient Experience Officer, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Charleen Tachibana, DNP, RN, SVP and Chief Quality, Safety and Patient Experience Officer, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Charleen Tachibana, DNP, RN, FAAN, serves as Chief Quality, Safety and Patient Experience Officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. She has served on the executive team at Virginia Mason for the past 15 years, and has extensive experience leading professional teams to deliver high quality and cost-effective care through the application of the Virginia Mason Production System®. Charleen has lectured and consulted internationally on the application of the principles and methods of the Toyota Production System to healthcare and to nursing. In addition to her advisory position at Virginia Mason Institute, she also serves as faculty for the University of Washington, the University of Washington Bothell, Pacific Lutheran University and Vanderbilt University. Charleen is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

Charleen Tachibana, DNP, RN, FAAN, serves as Chief Quality, Safety and Patient Experience Officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. She has served on the executive team at Virginia Mason for the past 15 years, and has extensive experience leading professional teams to deliver high quality and cost-effective care through the application of the Virginia Mason Production System®. Charleen has lectured and consulted internationally on the application of the principles and methods of the Toyota Production System to healthcare and to nursing. In addition to her advisory position at Virginia Mason Institute, she also serves as faculty for the University of Washington, the University of Washington Bothell, Pacific Lutheran University and Vanderbilt University. Charleen is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System®.

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