SSM Health’s commitment to delivering exceptional, consistent care across our ministry is earning national recognition — highlighting how our work is shaping the future of health care.
Modern Healthcare has named Stephanie Duggan, MD, SSM Health Chief Clinical Officer, to its 2026 list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. The annual list honors leaders who use their clinical expertise to guide strategy, drive transformation and influence the direction of health care nationwide.
Dr. Duggan’s recognition reflects more than individual achievement. It underscores the strength of SSM Health’s approach to clinical excellence — where innovation, collaboration and a shared commitment to our Mission come together to improve care for the communities we serve.
Since joining SSM Health in 2023, Dr. Duggan has helped lead significant clinical transformation and operational improvements across our 24-hospital system. Her work has focused on reducing variation in care delivery, strengthening evidence-based practices and ensuring that every patient experience is grounded in quality and consistency.
A key example is Project One, a multi-year effort to standardize the electronic health record across the organization. This initiative is not only simplifying workflows for care teams but also creating a strong foundation for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance clinical decision-making and patient care.
Under her leadership and in partnership with teams across the ministry, from 2024-2025, SSM Health has achieved meaningful, measurable results:
- A 15.7% improvement in mortality rates
- A 5.9% reduction in hospital length of stay
- A decrease in observation stays from 30.6 to 23.5 hours
These outcomes reflect the power of aligned clinical strategy — where caregivers are supported with the tools, processes and insights needed to deliver their best care every day.
Dr. Duggan’s perspective, shaped by her experience in both emergency medicine and executive leadership, has helped ensure that strategic decisions remain closely connected to the realities of patient care. This approach is central to how SSM Health advances our work: integrating clinical expertise with operational excellence to better serve patients and families.
Most importantly, this recognition elevates the work happening across SSM Health to a national level. It affirms that our ministry is not only delivering high-quality care within our communities but is also contributing to broader transformation across the health care industry.
At SSM Health, progress happens when dedicated people come together with a shared purpose. This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of our care teams, leaders and staff who are continuously working to improve outcomes, strengthen experiences and bring our Mission to life.
