Retired Henry Ford Health leader amplifies legacy of growth and innovation through gift

Gail Warden epitomized progress over the course of his 15-year career as President and CEO of Henry Ford Health. Leading the organization in a time that he described as “very critical,” Gail set out to consolidate Henry Ford’s clinical footprint and build on its academic strengths to position the system for growth.

Much of his tenure as President and CEO was spent integrating the health system — which previously operated as Henry Ford Health Care Corporation, a group of over 20 affiliated healthcare facilities and hospitals throughout Southeast Michigan — and strengthening the academic medical center.

He also championed philanthropy as a mechanism for growth and led the incredibly successful Fund for the Future campaign, which exceeded its $150 million fundraising goal by $15 million. This campaign advanced strategic priorities for the system, including donor created endowed chairs across many departments. Today, these endowed chairs, and more, serve a critical role in funding research, advancing care delivery, and recruiting and retaining top talent.

These efforts laid the groundwork for Henry Ford Health’s national prominence in bench-to-bedside research, educational programs and quality patient care — work which continues to grow and flourish today thanks to these resources.

Gail bolstered his legacy of visionary leadership with a $1 million gift toward Destination: Grand — and was determined to be among the first in the community to show his support. He hopes his leadership will motivate others to give.

“This is a very exciting period for Henry Ford,” said Gail. “I’m very proud of the organization and what it’s doing. All these things fit together to make Henry Ford a larger and more impactful academic medical center.”

The combination of Henry Ford Hospital’s expansion, a momentous partnership with Michigan State University embodied in a joint research facility, and community development is the perfect storm of opportunity for future growth and innovation. Philanthropy makes these efforts more impactful.

Gail shared, “I don’t think we’d be where we are in healthcare without philanthropy, because philanthropy in many cases is what funded facilities in healthcare all over the country. As those facilities get outdated, philanthropy is going to play a major role again.”

Beyond the resounding impact the project will have on Henry Ford’s clinical and research footprint, Gail hopes the collaborative effort to create a world-class academic medical center in Detroit is also a message to the surrounding communities that Henry Ford Health is there to take care of them.

“It took care of me, and I give back to give other people the same kind of opportunity,” said Gail.