About Us

“Supply chain professionals represent a critical back-office function that has front line, top line and bottom line implications for the healthcare facility, the clinician and the patient,” said Rick Dana Barlow, Co-founder and Executive Director, Bellwether League Inc. “Supply chain professionals work in a complex environment, serving multiple customers – the hospital and clinician directly, the patient and payer indirectly. They supply the tools necessary for clinicians to provide care for patients and in a cost-effective way that keeps the facility offering the care in continual operation.

“Without their clinical, fiscal and technological knowledge and skills, hospitals and clinicians alike would find it that much more challenging to provide quality healthcare to an increasingly demanding patient population,” Barlow continued. “For that reason alone, supply chain management professionals deserve to be recognized and honored. That’s why we created Bellwether League.”

Barlow is the president of Wingfoot Media Inc., an editorial consulting and content management firm. Barlow has more than 25 years of experience reporting on and writing about the healthcare supply chain industry for a variety of prominent industry media outlets and professional organizations.

“Individuals who have spent much, if not all, of their careers working hard to improve the profession while at the same time they light the way for others defines this group,” said John B. Gaida, Bellwether League Inc. Founding Board Member, Secretary (2010-2012) and Chairman (2013-2016). “Their dedication every day, month, and year to advancing supply chain technologies, reducing costs, and generally taking risks makes them a special breed in this multifaceted profession. Those who have led the way for others should be acknowledged and celebrated. Bellwether League is one way for all of us to recognize those individuals and their many accomplishments. We take pride in not only what we accomplish, but in who we have touched along the way.” Gaida is a veteran hospital and health system supply chain executive who retired at the end of 2016.

Bellwether League Inc. strives to shine a light on the efforts of influencers, innovators, pioneers and risk takers that helped mold and shape the healthcare supply chain profession. Their successes and failures not only promote their leadership qualities but also serve as education, inspiration and motivation for future generations.

“Because of the relative youth of the healthcare supply chain profession, the legacy of the early leaders, both in advocacy and performance, needs to be recognized,” said Patrick E. Carroll Jr., Founding Board Member, Treasurer (2007-2011) and Secretary (2013-2018). “This is not only for the recognition these leaders so richly deserve, but also for the inspiration they have provided, are providing, and will continue provide to the future leaders of the supply chain. Bellwether League will recognize these leaders of the healthcare supply chain for their accomplishments and provide guidance, inspiration and support for tomorrow’s healthcare supply chain leaders to confront the enormous challenges they face.”

Carroll is a former hospital supply chain manager-turned-healthcare industry consultant with more than three decades of experience.

“I am honored to be a part of this organization and hope that it will encourage future generations of supply chain leaders to produce even greater achievements in improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery,” said Robert P. “Bud” Bowen, Founding Board Member and Secretary (2007-2010). Bowen spent the bulk of his career in the group purchasing industry, leading and retiring from one of the largest GPOs.