Rich Liekweg named among ‘Great Leaders in Healthcare’

BJC Health System CEO Rich Liekweg has been named as one of the “Great Leaders in Healthcare” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

“Health care is rapidly evolving and the best leaders have embraced change and are leading organizations on the forefront of transforming care delivery,” Becker’s wrote, commending the 85 leaders for “using innovative digital technology, novel care delivery approaches and creative care solutions to shape the future of health care.”

Liekweg joined BJC HealthCare in 2009, first as president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and BJC group president, then BJC HealthCare executive vice president and president before being named BJC CEO in 2018 and CEO of BJC Health System in January 2024 following the integration of BJC with Saint Luke’s Health System.

Throughout his tenure, Liekweg has focused on doing the most good for the most people, guided by the platinum rule (“treat people as they would like to be treated”) and building BJC’s network of affiliations and partnerships across the St. Louis area and beyond to expand access and level of care. Most recently, his work leading the integration with Saint Luke’s Health System expanded BJC Health System into the premier system in the Midwest, consisting of 24 hospitals and hundreds of offices and clinics spanning eastern Kansas, the Kansas City area and northwest Missouri, the St. Louis region, and southern Illinois.

“Rich is a thoughtful, humble, authentic leader with a heart for service to our patients and communities,” said Jackie Tischler, BJC Health System chief people officer. “He loves spending time with our 44,000 caregivers, rounding with them, and hearing about their journeys.  He inspires each of us to keep advancing our mission to provide extraordinary care for all.  Rich is truly one of the ‘Great Leaders in Healthcare.’”

Additionally, Liekweg has been engaged in several community engagement activities. He spearheaded the partnership with Midwest BankCentre to create a depository relationship, where BJC deposited funds in Midwest BankCentre branches located in under-resourced communities in the St. Louis community. Midwest BankCentre pledged to responsibly increase lending in those ZIP codes, allowing residents in that region to achieve financial goals, such as home or small business ownership.

Liekweg has fostered a culture of inclusion, acceptance and service within BJC Health System. He is an active participant in employee engagement events, including the Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative service, the BJC Clinical Asset Management medical equipment and supply donation to Ukraine, and Pride Month, to name a few. He is notably a leader and champion for advancing health care excellence, expanding access and innovation in the fight against cancer. He is a longtime supporter of Pedal the Cause and a yearly participant in the American Cancer Society’s step challenge, Fit2Be Cancer Free, on behalf of CEOs Against Cancer.