Michael L. Harrington, MBA, MA, is a dynamic senior healthcare executive with a distinguished record of leading transformational change across complex health systems, hospital operations, and public health agencies. His career spans over two decades of results-driven leadership, where he has consistently delivered operational turnarounds, growth strategies, and quality improvements in both private and public sector healthcare environments. With a foundation in counseling psychology and business administration—both earned with highest honors—Michael brings a rare combination of analytical insight, empathy, and executional excellence to every role.
Most recently, Michael served as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health (January 2024–April 2025), the largest state agency representing 43% of the state’s budget, with oversight of $19.9 billion in Medicaid services and the operations of five state-run hospitals. Appointed by the Governor for this critical transition role, he helped lead system-wide strategic change, overseeing care for 1.7 million lives and integrating services across managed care, mental health, and home-based delivery systems. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director at Caldwell Butler and Associates, a performance improvement consultancy where he accelerated results through Lean Six Sigma-driven initiatives focused on cost reduction, accountability, and strategic alignment.
Michael’s ability to lead through complexity was showcased during his tenure as President and COO of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. There, he oversaw daily operations of a 299-bed hospital with over $610 million in annual revenue, spearheaded a system-wide restructure for Medicaid-dependent services, and launched high-impact programs including CAR-T oncology, a Pediatric Heart Transplant Program, and a state-of-the-art Fetal Care Center. His governance experience was deepened through his active participation as a member of the Hospital Board, the Quality and Finance Committees, and the Foundation Board.
His earlier executive leadership includes serving as President of Operations at Christus Health in Louisiana, where he led a full financial turnaround of a critical access hospital; as COO at Cape Fear Valley Health System in North Carolina, where he managed $680 million in revenues across a five-hospital network; and as COO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he implemented a $250 million master facility plan and introduced a physician compensation model that aligned productivity and growth incentives.
Throughout his career, Michael has been sought out for his project management expertise, overseeing hospital construction and growth initiatives ranging from $38 million to $250 million, and for his operational turnarounds that consistently exceeded benchmarks. He has applied Lean Six Sigma methodologies to optimize patient flow, reduce inefficiencies, and drive measurable improvements in patient safety and satisfaction—including a dramatic 10% reduction in Emergency Department LWBS rates at Cape Fear.
In addition to his executive leadership, Michael is actively involved in civic and community service. He has held numerous board positions including Board Member of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Georgia, YMCA, Hospice of Southwest Florida, and Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte County. He has also chaired the Economic Development Council of North Port, Florida, and served on the Advisory Board for Argosy University. His commitment to healthcare education continues through his role as Adjunct Faculty at Southern Crescent Technical College.
Michael Harrington is a visionary, hands-on leader known for his bias toward action, data-driven strategies, and collaborative spirit. Whether guiding state health policy or transforming hospital operations, he leads with integrity, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to improving care for the communities he serves.
Character
Michael Harrington leads with integrity, empathy, and a deep commitment to public service, consistently earning trust through his dedication to patient safety, operational excellence, and community health. His leadership reflects a strong moral compass and a genuine passion for improving care in diverse and often underserved populations.
Knowledge
With dual master’s degrees in business administration and counseling psychology, Michael brings a multidisciplinary perspective to healthcare leadership, combining operational acumen with human-centered insight. His extensive experience spans hospital administration, Medicaid systems, lean operations, and large-scale healthcare transformation.
Strategic
Michael has a proven track record of executing complex growth initiatives, system restructures, and financial turnarounds across multibillion-dollar healthcare systems. He applies data-driven strategy and decisive leadership to guide institutions through transformation while exceeding performance and patient care benchmarks.
Communication
Michael is a collaborative communicator who builds consensus across diverse teams, boards, and stakeholders, fostering transparency and alignment at every level. His ability to connect authentically with staff, patients, and state leadership has been central to his success in both executive and public sector roles.
