Ronald Richard Peterson

Peterson, a president of The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He earned his B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University in 1970 and his M.A.H.A. in hospital administration from The George Washington University in 1974.

Peterson began working at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1973 as an administrative resident. He became administrator of the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic in 1974, of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Cost Improvement Program in 1975, and of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in 1978. On a rotating basis during this time period, he also served as the Nighttime Administrator on Call.

In 1982, Peterson started the process of transforming the troubled Baltimore City Hospitals into the Francis Scott Key Medical Center, and ultimately to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He directed a $100 million physical redevelopment program and turned a seven million dollar per year loss under Baltimore City ownership into a significant positive performance. Peterson served as president of the medical center from 1984 until 1999.

In 1986, he was instrumental in the acquisition of the former U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Wyman Park, which laid the foundation for Johns Hopkins’ relationship with the Department of Defense.

In 1995, Peterson was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System Corporation. Governing boards appointed him acting president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation in September, 1996. He became president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in December, 1996 and of The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation in February, 1997. Beginning in 1998, Peterson also served as executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

In July, 2016, Peterson retired as the tenth president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In December, 2017, he retired as president of The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine. During his tenure, The Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked the number one hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for sixteen years, fifteen of which were consecutive. Peterson also oversaw the tremendous growth of The Johns Hopkins Hospital facilities, which included a new cancer center and two clinical towers.

During his tenure as President of Johns Hopkins Health System, he partnered with Edward Miller and later Paul Rothman to build an integrated academic health system. He personally participated in every major acquisition including Howard County General Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Peterson has served the community in a variety of capacities. These include serving as chair of the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board and subsequently vice chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, as well as a member of the boards of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Greater Baltimore Committee, the Center Club, the Maryland Mentoring Partnership-Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way of Central Maryland, The American Red Cross Lifeboard, and the Maryland Hospital Association Executive Committee.