William A. Donato Jr.

William Donato may have spent the majority of his career-to-date in the Supplier category with one company, but he’s also contributed heavily to the Provider Supply Chain Management and Group Purchasing Organization categories as well. In fact, his roots stem from the hospital supply chain management industry segment and have extended in a multi-faceted way into the other two segments, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and profession.

Advancing the Profession through Performance

Introduced/pioneered new concepts and ideas within supply chain operations

• At Cleveland Clinic, Donato led an expansive supply chain operation that included innovative approaches to delivering the appropriate products at the right time and for the best possible cost.  This included the use of robots and, because of the reputation and clinical focus on the organization, extensive interaction and collaboration with physicians, nurses and other clinical staff. One of Donato’s biggest innovations was changing the culture between Supply Chain and the Medical Staff and how they work together ending with three physicians employed within Supply Chain and more than $130 million in supply savings.
• At Ethicon Donato implemented three contracting and pricing committees with representation from multiple departments that resulted in standardized processes for contracting, pricing, exceptions and financial analysis.
• At SSM/DHS, Donato achieved contract compliance growth of 20 percent and revenue growth of 15 percent and established with physician involvement a nuclear medicine and cardiac pacemaker program. Both of these were fairly new categories for a GPO to cover at that time.
• At Alta Bates, Donato led a multi-location supply chain and implemented cutting-edge processes, including the use of a central materials management information system (MMIS) – which at that time was a significant challenge.

Influenced the C-Suite and/or physicians and other clinicians and/or fellow department heads on the benefits of optimal supply chain strategies and tactics

• At Cleveland Clinic, CEO Tobey Cosgrove, M.D., entrusted Donato with $10 million for him to develop his vision for Supply Chain and to generate $100 million in savings.
• Donato fused Supply Chain with Medical Operations by integrating two physician leaders into Supply Chain operations (a vascular surgeon and a cardio-thoracic anesthesiologist).  Physician salaries are partially funded by Supply Chain.
• He also led the development and execution of the Novation “Redbook” strategy, which resulted in the conversion of $150 million in sales and 852 customers from the Novation agreement to independent contracts in 90 days.

Demonstrated leadership in expense management and quality measures that contributed to an organization’s financial, operational and clinical success

• At Alta Bates and Cleveland Clinic Donato achieved annually significant cost reductions through advanced sourcing.
• At Cleveland Clinic, Donato successfully initiated a $100-million supply expense reduction program before moving on to dispatch an additional $100 million. This project was accomplished in collaboration with his Medical Staff while also improving the quality of patient care, and helped to change the culture at Cleveland Clinic.
• Donato achieved the highest suture share for Ethicon in 2002 (85 percent) through product improvements and brand differentiation.
• Donato worked to reversed negative mesh sales to achieve 20 percent and 30 percent growth respectively in 2002 and 2003 through the launch of a dedicated mesh sales team, focused professional education, preceptor recruiting and new product development.
• He drove Ethicon’s Dermabond Topical Skin Adhesive sales to achieve three consecutive years of 30 percent growth through new product development, expanded indications and use and direct to patient media and print campaigns.
• At Alta Bates Health System, which comprised five acute care hospitals as well as clinics and physician offices, Donato implemented an enterprise-wide supply chain information system and executed a system-wide value analysis program led by the clinicians.
• At Alta Bates and Cleveland Clinic Donato achieved significant cost reductions through aggressive standardization that utilized multiple clinical committees to drive success.
• He also led the integration of physicians into the Supply Chain processes where physicians drove all major decisions.
• Donato received AHRMM’s George R. Gossett Leadership Award in 1996. This is the highest honor granted by AHRMM, and is given to an individual who has demonstrated an extraordinary level of leadership and professionalism in the field, made significant contributions to the organization and has advanced healthcare supply chain.

Work Experience

• DePuy Synthes Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company, Vice President, Franchise Strategic Account Management, April 2013-present
• Cleveland Clinic, 2009-2013 Chief of Supply Chain, 2009-2013
• Ethicon Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company
• Vice President, Contracting & Compliance, 2004-2009
• Vice President, Marketing, 2001-2004
• Group Product Director, 1999-2001
• Director, Health Care Marketing, 1994-1999 
• Sisters of Sorrowful Mother/Diversified Healthcare Services (Consorta member), Executive Director, 1992-1994
• SunHealth Alliance, Division Vice President, Material Services, 1990-1992
• Alta Bates Health System, Corporate Director, Materials Management, 1985 -1990

Professional/Humanitarian Activities

2004-present, Member Board of Directors, Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI)
2002- 2005, Legislative/Community Affairs Committee – Somerset (NJ) Medical Center
1996, Recipient, AHRMM’s George R. Gossett Leadership Award 
1991- 1994, President, American Society for Healthcare Materials Management (ASHMM) 
1988-1990, ASHMM Region 9 Board Representative
1988-1992, AHA Legislation, Advocacy and Health Care Reform Task Force
1990, Treasurer, Northern California Chapter, ASHMM  
1988, Chair, VHA Materials Management Advisory Committee – Northern California 
Keynote speaker, panel participant, and facilitator for educational sessions in more than 100 programs to Supply Chain, Materials Managers, Registered Nurses, Physicians/Surgeons, Administrators, CEOs, Suppliers and other healthcare professionals.

Publications:

1992   “Forecasting Health Care Trends,” Materials Management in Healthcare
1990   “Savings of Supply Flow Management:  Business Plan,” Hospital Purchasing News 
1990   “Supply Flow Management - The Next Level of Materials Management Program Development,” ASHMM Reference Series
1988   “Materials Management in Multi’s,” Journal of Health Care Materiel Management