John Foss – Outstanding healthcare is about a shared commitment to serving the community.

[00:00] Introduction of John Foss – John details his operational leadership role spanning the Muskegon, Shelby, and Grand Haven medical campuses.

[01:46] Joining the Army Out of High School – John shares why he enlisted to fund college and build personal accountability.

[02:52] Becoming a Combat Medic – How an automated test and an old video disc kicked off John’s healthcare journey.

[05:25] Lessons in Empathy & Diversity – How basic training taught John to communicate across different backgrounds.

[07:13] Discovering the PA Profession – A chance encounter with a sign that introduced John to the physician assistant career track.

[14:47] Working in an HIV Clinic during the 1990s – A moving look at handling critical care and empathy during the Ryan White era.

[18:46] The Birth of the Hospitalist Movement – How John helped pioneer a groundbreaking model of centralized hospital care in West Michigan.

[31:51] Transitioning into Healthcare Administration – Pursuing an MBA to bridge the gap between business operations and clinical practice.

[54:48] “Ready to Be the Most Important Person” – A powerful leadership lesson on why every single hospital staff member has a day where they are the most critical piece of the puzzle.

John Foss serves as Senior Vice President of Operations for Trinity Health, overseeing hospital operations across Grand Haven and Shelby. Throughout his career, John has been committed to building strong healthcare teams, improving patient experiences, and ensuring communities have access to exceptional care close to home.

Under his leadership, Trinity Health Shelby Hospital was recognized as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by the Chartis Center for Rural Health—an honor awarded to only two hospitals in Michigan. John credits the achievement not to facilities or technology alone, but to a culture built on teamwork, collaboration, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to patients.

Passionate about connecting rural communities to comprehensive healthcare resources, John believes great leadership is about creating systems that allow exceptional people to do their best work while ensuring every patient receives seamless, high-quality care, regardless of which Trinity Health campus they visit.