Ernst & Young (EY) announced that Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Ochsner Health System, received the Entrepreneur of The Year® 2019 Award in the Healthcare & Related Services category for the Gulf Coast Area. The award recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Thomas was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event on June 21 at the Marriott Marquis Houston.
Ochsner created an innovation lab, innovationOchsner, or iO, which functions like a start-up that is embedded within the organization. With different goals and an operating structure to really embody an entrepreneurial culture, iO focuses on solving some of healthcare’s most pressing problems. It creates new value by using technology and data to deliver personalized, patient-centered solutions to empower people to live their healthiest, best lives.
“Ochsner is a growing organization that has been an entrepreneur in building new innovations and technologies that are changing the way we are delivering healthcare. This would not be possible without the amazing people who drive this every single day,” said Thomas. “We are proud to place New Orleans and Louisiana on the map for digital health through iO and will continue to work hard to change the lives of those across the country.”
As a Gulf Coast Area award winner, Thomas is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, Cal., on Nov. 16, 2019.