A Legacy of Leadership and Mentorship in Healthcare

Bob Atlas, ‘77, has dedicated more than forty years to shaping and influencing the healthcare industry. Over the course of his career, he has held prominent positions, including President of the Lewin Group, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Avalere Health, President of EBG Advisors, and President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association. Currently, Atlas serves as the President of Grace Creek Advisors. While these roles brought him immense professional satisfaction, Atlas takes the most pride in his work mentoring the next generation. As he puts it, “teaching the generations just coming up how the healthcare system really works, with the benefit of having touched virtually every sector,” has been his most rewarding experience.  

A passionate advocate for young professionals entering the healthcare field, Atlas emphasizes the importance of cultivating talent and fostering leadership. His most significant accomplishment, he believes, is “having cultivated the talents of hundreds of healthcare professionals. Many have risen to high ranks in the healthcare industry, government, and NGOs.” His dedication to mentorship has left a lasting impact on the industry, shaping a diverse and capable workforce equipped to take on healthcare’s most pressing challenges.  

Atlas encourages students and aspiring professionals to view healthcare as a dynamic industry with lots of potential. However, he balances that enthusiasm with a realistic perspective, advising, “Healthcare is a complex industry with vast opportunities. But those who think they can deliver a quick fix need to understand the very real challenges of overcoming established traditions, powerful vested interests, and slow-to-change rules.” Despite these challenges, Atlas underscores that ambitious goals are still achievable. His own career serves as a testament to this, marked by his contributions to innovative programs like Maryland’s Total Cost of Care Model, a value-based payment initiative developed in collaboration with the CMS Innovation Center that has become a cornerstone for addressing healthcare costs and outcomes.  

Atlas’s educational journey began at Oberlin College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1975. Drawn to Booth for its “preeminence in health administration,” he credits the school with opening doors and providing opportunities that pushed his career forward. The Booth experience, known for its rigorous curriculum and expansive network, was transformative for Atlas, equipping him with the tools to thrive in a challenging industry. Amidst the academic and professional opportunities, he considers the most important takeaway from Booth to be meeting his wife.  

Atlas’s commitment to the healthcare sector, coupled with his passion for mentoring future leaders, has established his legacy as both an industry innovator and a champion for the next generation. Through his leadership and dedication, he has not only shaped policy and organizational strategy but also inspired hundreds of professionals to pursue meaningful careers in healthcare.