Bellwether League, Inc.Nick Gaich

Nick Gaich

Nick Gaich is the founder and CEO of Nick Gaich and Associates, a firm dedicated to providing executive coaching, leadership development, strategic planning and operational performance.

Gaich has more than 35 years of experience. His range of expertise is concentrated in areas such as executive coaching, organizational development, supply chain management, customer service, service-line economics and clinical research infrastructure and operations.

Gaich retired in 2012 as Assistant Dean of Clinical and Translational Research Operations, Stanford Center of Clinical and Translational Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine. Previously, he served as Vice President of Customer Service and Materials Management and Service Line Administrator for the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. During his tenure, his department received the Stanford Hospital Malinda Mitchell Service Quality Department of the Year Award (the Stanford University equivalent of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award) and Stanford Hospital Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award, and became the first and only non-clinical department to earn such recognition.  

Gaich also served three years as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Appleseed Healthcare Resources, a firm dedicated to providing senior operations leadership personnel and education to the healthcare industry

He held a two-year appointment on the Consortium Management Group, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.

His extensive domestic experience is complemented by international experience gained from serving as subject matter expert on a health system design project for the Ministry of Health in Qatar, UAE. As the supply chain lead, Gaich modeled and integrated a complete supply chain design for a Specialty Teaching Hospital in the Qatar Foundation’s Education City. This project was a joint effort with Cornell University. Gaich also served as education partner A& I Health Care, a European logistics company.

Gaich holds a certification in Process Improvement from the Juran Institute of Quality Management and certification as Facilitator Organizational Management Training from Development Dimensions International. He graduated cum laude with a BBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration from National University of San Diego.

Gaich remains a much sought-after source on a wide range of topics related to healthcare providers, including executive leadership, change management, margin performance, supply chain optimization, organization and governance, operations improvement, organizational development, clinical research infrastructure and regulatory compliance and the future of healthcare. He has presented on these topics at the National Institute of Health, American Health Lawyers Association, National Council University Research, World Research Group Healthcare Revenue Cycle Conference, AAHC, Clinical Research Forum, National Council of University Research, American Health lawyers Association,  IDN Summit & Expo, and the World Congress Leadership Summit on Healthcare Supply Chain Management, as well as conferences of the Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA), Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN). 

Advancing the Profession through Performance
Work Experience
Education
Professional/Humanitarian Activities

In His Own Words…

What do you think about Bellwether League Inc.’s mission and philosophy and how do you feel about becoming an Honoree?

Bellwether League’s mission and philosophy is timely, relevant and meaningful. I am both humbled and privileged in becoming a Bellwether honoree and hope that my experiences (success and failures) will allow others who come behind me to grow and contribute to the healthcare supply chain community.

What attracted and motivated you to join the healthcare supply chain management field when you did?

My attraction to healthcare is grounded in my desire to support the work and expertise of those who directly serve others in need of medical care. My desire has always been to contribute business structure and leadership that raises the level of professionalism, which in turn advances the healthcare industry. My motivation is having an opportunity to contribute and work alongside terrific individuals and through those contributions seeing individuals experience the pride of success both at a personal and professional level.

For what one contribution would you like to be most remembered?

Serving as a mentor and trusted professional.

If you were to encourage people – either outside of healthcare or just out of school – to enter healthcare supply chain management and strive to be a future Bellwether League Inc. Honoree, what would you tell them?

Stay true to yourself and your passion to contribute to a higher cause and be willing to engage all perspectives and opinions. Learn early that the value of humility of serving others will be your strongest attribute and that instilling trust both in yourself and others will be a central tenant of success.

I would share with them that true success is measured not in the number of projects or people that you lead or financial measures that you have realized, but in how you have impacted the lives of individuals and organizations in a meaningful and sustainable way.

What is the one industry challenge you would like to see solved in your lifetime?

Full industry transparency, aligned incentives and sustainable business model options.

How important is effective and innovative supply chain management during tough economic times?

[It’s a] top imperative.

In two sentences or less, what defines healthcare supply chain leadership?

Leaders that possess the moral will to do the right thing and the moral skill to figure out what doing the right thing means.