On September 4, 2025, the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy hosted the 16th McLane Leadership in Business Award, honoring Pete McCanna, Chief Executive Officer of Baylor Scott and White Health (BSW). The program opened with remarks from John B. Sherman, Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, followed by a video highlighting the McLane Award and its connection to President George H. W. Bush’s legacy of public service. Alice Gonzalez Yates, CEO of George & Barbara Bush Foundation, then introduced the evening’s speakers.
Prior to the ceremony, McCanna met with health policy students from Texas A&M’s Bush School, School of Public Health, and Economics Department, discussing healthcare policy trends, the challenges to expanded healthcare access, and career opportunities in healthcare. During the award ceremony, Pete McCanna joined Dr. Raymond Robertson, Director of the Mosbacher Institute, for a conversation that traced his early steps in healthcare to his leadership style within BSW. McCanna shared his path from earning an English degree at The University of Michigan to becoming one of the most influential figures in the American healthcare industry. He highlighted his father’s role in inspiring him to pursue a career that would be impactful to people’s lives, as well as his master’s project supervisor, who introduced him to the dysfunctionalities of the U.S. healthcare system and inspired him to pursue meaningful change in the field.
When asked about his work and management style at BSW, McCanna emphasized the challenge of leading a not-for-profit health organization to achieve high efficiency while pursuing innovative ways to advance its vision. He highlighted blending the power of artificial intelligence (AI), purposeful leadership, and commitment to public service. Drawing on 16 years of experience as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Northwestern Medicine, McCanna embraced the opportunity to drive customer-centered transformation and care. McCanna explained that BSW’s openness to expand AI-supported digital health services—such as in radiology and diagnostic tools—is guided by accountable leaders committed to empathetic public service.
The conversation concluded with McCanna’s reflections on where he derives his hope and what public service challenges should be addressed to help the most vulnerable communities. He credited the “fabulous purpose-driven people” at BSW as his source of hope and emphasized the need to provide access to health insurance so that millions of uninsured Americans can maintain their health, while also saving employers millions, if not billions, of dollars.
McCanna responded to questions submitted by the audience regarding promising opportunities in the health industry for students, emphasizing the value of openness to new technical skills, and adapting to emerging technologies. He noted that rapid advances, particularly in AI, are reshaping the medical field and require adaptability from both institutions and individuals.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the McLane award by Drayton McLane Jr., chairman of the McLane Group, who praised McCanna’s leadership and selflessness. With nearly 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Pete McCanna was celebrated by family, colleagues, and members of the Bush School and Texas A&M community.
You can view the 2025 McLane Leadership in Business Award program on the Bush School YouTube channel.
