John La Forgia

In his 40-year health care career, John La Forgia acquired extensive experience and demonstrated transformational leadership in the fields of strategic planning, brand management, marketing, integrated communications and government relations, digital communications, and staff management and development. In his time working with various health care systems John became known as a visionary leader with the ability to bring his vision to reality. One of John’s specialties is working with under-performing groups to bring them to high levels of success. He has done this in every hospital system where he has worked, with consistently outstanding results. In 2015, John retired from his position as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH) to devote his time to consulting, writing and teaching. An award-winning writer, John published Brand Aid, the Revolutionary Transformation of the Mayo Clinic Brand, in August 2019. At Hawai‘i Pacific Health, John During his tenure at HPH, John re-engineered an under-performing Marketing and Communications department. In doing so he developed a comprehensive strategic plan for HPH and its affiliated hospitals and other entities. He also led development of a host of new functions including interactive media, a social media program, an award-winning new website, a market research function, electronic patient communications, electronic physician communications, and enhanced media relations. He also led the creation of a corporate identity and branding platform. Prior to joining Hawai‘i Pacific Health he was Chief Marketing Officer and chair of the Enterprise Department of Marketing and Public Affairs for Mayo Clinic world-wide. During his 23 years there as an Enterprise executive, his responsibilities covered the three Mayo Clinics in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota as well as the Mayo Clinic Health System and the Mayo Clinic Care Network. John was responsible for government relations, brand management, community engagement, institutional communications, social media, media relations, development communications and marketing. Prior to that, he was Corporate Director of Public Affairs for the Medical Center of Delaware (now Christiana Health Care) in Wilmington, Delaware and Corporate Director for Media and Communications at Carondelet Health Care Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.