Institute | Who We Are

Who We Are

The West Health Institute is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) medical research organization whose mission is to lower health care costs by developing innovative patient-centered solutions that deliver the right care at the right place at the right time.

The Institute is part of West Health, which includes the West Health Policy Center, West Health Investment Fund and West Health Incubator.

The West Health initiative and its four entities are solely funded by pioneering philanthropists Gary and Mary West.

The West Health Institute and West Health Policy Center are established with 501(c)(3) designations and are supported through the Gary and Mary West Foundation, while the West Health Investment Fund and West Health Incubator are established as for-profit entities, with financial returns from their investments used to fund medical research and charitable activities.

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About Gary & Mary West

Read Their Story

Gary and Mary West are successful entrepreneurs and pioneering philanthropists with a commitment to lowering health care costs in the United States. The couple’s passion for the West Health endeavor began more than 30 years ago when Gary was an assistant hospital administrator and the rate for a hospital room was less than $100 per day; today, the cost of a one-day stay in the hospital is more than $4,000. After founding and building West Corporation, a leading provider of technology-driven communications with more than 30,000 employees, in 1986, the Wests became acutely aware of the pressing need to do something about the rising and unsustainable cost of health care. True patriots with Midwestern values, Gary and Mary were spurred to action so that everyone has the opportunity for prosperity and success. 

In 2006, the Gary and Mary West Foundation was established with the goal of making a significant, positive impact in our country and communities by focusing on meaningful, measurable results from every grant. The Foundation supports four focus areas: independence for seniors; career opportunities for disadvantaged youth; service canines for seniors and veterans; and lowering the cost of health care. www.gmwf.org

With the cost crisis in health care showing no signs of abating, Gary and Mary West dedicated substantial resources, both personally and through their Foundation, to address this critical issue. They created West Health, an initiative combining four separate organizations with the shared goal of lowering health care costs by creating innovative, patient-centered solutions that deliver the right care at the right place at the right time. The West Health entities include the nonprofit West Health Institute and West Health Policy Center, and the for-profit West Health Investment Fund and West Health Incubator.

Created in 2009 with a $45 million grant from the Gary and Mary West Foundation, the Gary and Mary West Health Institute (WHI) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) applied medical research organization dedicated to lowering the cost of health care by driving patient-centered solutions that make quality health care more affordable, more accessible and more efficient.

The Washington, D.C.-based Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center was launched in January 2012. It is an advocacy-oriented, nonpartisan, nonprofit Center with a focus on identifying implementable policies to lower the cost of health care while preserving quality and access.

The Wests seeded the Gary and Mary West Health Investment Fund with $100 million in October 2011. The Fund provides risk capital for technology companies working on innovations that could reduce the cost of health care. It is unique in its philanthropic nature because the Fund commits any returns made from investments to medical research and other charitable activities. Gary and Mary West will never personally profit from any returns from the Fund. 

Founded in August 2012 and located on the same campus as WHI in San Diego, the Gary and Mary West Health Incubator is also funded directly by the Wests. It provides infrastructure at the facility, strategic guidance and access to an extensive network of key partners, allowing for the transfer-to-industry of research technologies developed at WHI and elsewhere.

Read more about Gary and Mary West here.

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Board of Directors

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Chairman & Founder

Gary West
Gary West

Chairman & Founder

Gary West began his career as a hospital administrator and went on to build one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Along with his wife Mary, Mr. West has founded numerous companies over the last four decades – beginning with WATS Telemarketing in 1978 and followed by West Corporation in 1986.

West Corporation became one of the largest customer relationship management providers in the world with more than 35,000 employees and $3.5 billion in annual sales. Since West Corporation was taken private in 2006, Mr. West and his wife have started and now lead a range of enterprises based in Southern California and the Midwest, including West Development and West Partners, a private equity firm.

Mr. West and his wife formed the Gary and Mary West Foundation in 2006 to pursue their philanthropic interests. The West Health Institute is an extension of their philanthropy. Through the Institute, Mr. West is committed to lowering health care costs and changing the way health care is delivered.

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Chief Executive Officer

Nicholas J. Valeriani
Nicholas J. Valeriani

Chief Executive Officer

In his role as chief executive of the collective West Health effort, Nicholas J. Valeriani brings valuable expertise in engineering, operations, medical devices and diagnostics, entrepreneurship and non-profit leadership that make him uniquely qualified to advance the mission to lower health care costs through the West Health Institute, West Health Policy Center, West Health Investment Fund and West Health Incubator. All of these entities focus on lowering costs by creating innovative, patient-centered solutions that deliver the right care at the right place at the right time. Valeriani is the CEO of the Institute, the flagship organization of West Health, and the chair of the Executive Committee, the coordinated leadership team of West Health.

Valeriani established himself as a visionary health care leader over a 34-year career with Johnson & Johnson where he led several corporate functions and was a member of the corporation’s executive committee as corporate vice president of human resources; worldwide chairman of medical devices & diagnostics; and as vice president of the Office of Strategy & Growth. He was instrumental in identifying the global health care trends that led to the creation of a new wellness and prevention business platform and pioneering opportunities in the area of digital health.

He currently serves on the board of directors for the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Valeriani has an M.B.A. from Rutgers University, Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Rutgers University, College of Engineering.

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Board Member

Charles Sederstrom
Charles Sederstrom

Board Member

Charles Sederstrom is currently General Counsel to Alegent Health, which is the largest nongovernmental employer in the state of Nebraska and the largest hospital in the state of Nebraska with 10 hospitals, 250 employed physicians, and over one hundred separate points of entry into the health system. He began practicing law in Omaha, Nebraska in 1968 with Donald H. Erickson, and subsequently began the law firm of Erickson | Sederstrom. His area of specialization is Corporate Law with a particular focus on Health Law.

Sederstrom is a very active member and leader in many legal and civic organizations, including American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Combined Health Agencies Drive of Nebraska, Goodwill Industries, United Way, Rotary International, Chamber of Commerce, and the Omaha Home for Boys.

During the past twenty years, Sederstrom also has been involved with the Salvation Army having served on the Omaha Board and for over ten years on the National Board. In addition, he was formerly Chairman of the Combined Health Agencies of America.

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Board Member

Dr. Michael Johns
Dr. Michael Johns

Board Member

Dr. Johns is currently Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Emory University, where he served as Chancellor from 2007 until 2012. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Johns has led complex administrative and academic organizations to new levels of excellence and service.  He is widely renowned as a catalyst of new thinking in many areas of health policy a significant contributor to many of the leading organizations and policy groups in health care and passionate about lowering the cost of health care.

Prior his role as Chancellor, Dr. Johns served as the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University where he oversaw the University’s widespread academic and clinical programs in health sciences and led strategic planning initiatives for both patient care and research.

From 1996 to 2007, Dr. Johns served as the Chairman of the Board of Emory Healthcare, the largest health care system in Georgia.  In addition, he served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Vice President of the Medical Faculty at Johns Hopkins University from 1990-1996. Dr. Johns is Past Chair of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Institute of Medicine. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and chairs the Publication Committee of the journal Academic Medicine.

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Board Member

Jim Hasson
Jim Hasson

Board Member

Jim Hasson is a partner at the law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, where he is a member of the Tax Practice Group. He represents businesses, tax-exempt organizations and individuals in controversies with governmental agencies; in planning, contractual and financing projects; and in legislative initiatives. He leads projects and relationships for individuals, businesses, universities, private foundations, hospitals, medical research organizations, and other religious, charitable and educational organizations. Mr. Hasson deals regularly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and other federal and state governmental agencies.

Mr. Hasson has published numerous articles and speaks extensively at various conferences around the country. From 1987 to 1990, he served as a member of the Exempt Organization Advisory Group to the Commissioner of the IRS, and he served nearly 20 years as an Adjunct Professor of Law in the graduate tax program at Emory University School of Law.

Mr. Hasson has been named to The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of nonprofit/charities law and tax law (1987-2011), and he has been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers in the area of tax (2003-2011). He received his law degree from Duke University School of Law.

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