James R. Kaskie

President & Chief Executive Officer

James R. Kaskie is the President and CEO of Kaleida Health, the largest healthcare provider and the largest employer in Western New York.

He is also President and CEO of Great Lakes Health, the entity integrating Kaleida Health, ECMC and the University at Buffalo.

Kaskie, a Buffalo resident, was recruited to Kaleida Health in 2004 as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). He was named to his current post on January 1, 2006, becoming just the third CEO in the organization's history.

In his five years at Kaleida Health, Kaskie has led the organization as it has dramatically strengthened its balance sheet, grown net assets, recorded budget surpluses, improved quality indicators, grew market share, improved patient satisfaction, enhanced physician relations, bolstered its pension plan and signed two new master bargaining agreements, which covers nearly 85% of its 10,000 employees.

As CEO, Kaskie has overseen the strategic investments of a combined $350 million of capital including the expansion of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, improved cardiac and imaging platforms and the refurbishment of other key service lines and sites. He has also facilitated improved relations with the University of Buffalo (Kaleida Health is the number one training site for physicians and is involved in 17 practice plans with UB) as well as hundreds of private practice physicians.

Kaskie joined Kaleida Health after serving as the Senior Vice President for Operations of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a $6.5 billion organization across 19 states. At CHI, Kaskie was responsible for overseeing a $2 billion operation of 13 facilities in a five-state area.

Kaskie is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He received a Master of Health Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Kaskie and his wife, Jane, are both natives of St. Louis. They have two adult children and one grandchild.

Jim and Jane serve on the boards or are active in the following organizations: Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Medaille College, Buffalo Prep, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, United Way, American Heart Association, Newman Center of Buffalo State College, Tri-Main Artist Guild, WNY Partnership in Art and the SPCA.