Legacy Health has tapped Dr. Susan Huang as its next president and chief executive officer, handing her the keys to a Portland-area health system that has been wrestling with budget gaps and service cutbacks. Huang is scheduled to step into the role on June 16, 2026, after what the system describes as an extensive national search for a long-term leader.
In a news release, Legacy said its board chose Huang following a “comprehensive and competitive national search” and emphasized her mix of clinical and operational experience. According to Legacy Health, board members pointed to her “deep clinical expertise” and history of leading complex health systems as key reasons for the appointment.
From Providence Leadership To Portland Hot Seat
Huang most recently served as Providence’s chief physician executive and as chief executive of the Providence Clinical Network, overseeing physician clinics, diagnostic services and graduate medical education out of the system office in Renton, Washington. Providence lists her among its senior physician leaders and credits her with guiding clinical operations across several regions.
Clinical Chops And An Eye For Innovation
Legacy’s announcement notes that Huang is a board-certified dermatologist who earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. She later served on the Harvard faculty and as an attending physician at Beth Israel Deaconess. The release also states that she previously held leadership posts at Sutter Health’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation and helped develop an early artificial intelligence model for medical use in collaboration with Google. Legacy Health adds that her background spans community, academic and virtual care environments.
Big Footprint, Tough Financial Backdrop
Legacy operates seven hospitals and more than 70 clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington, a footprint that local coverage suggests is both an asset and a financial strain. As outlined by The Lund Report, the system has pared back services and shut down some urgent care locations in recent months. Per The Oregonian/OregonLive, Legacy reported a loss of about $71.2 million in 2025, based on financial records reviewed by journalists.
What Comes Next For Legacy
Huang will take over from Dr. George Brown, who has been serving as interim president and CEO since Kathryn Correia departed in April 2024. Industry coverage from Becker’s Hospital Review previously detailed the leadership change and the system’s efforts to recruit a permanent chief executive. Legacy officials say Huang’s combination of clinical depth and operational know-how positions her to lead the organization through its financial and service pressures.
Her June start date gives Legacy time to structure a handoff and identify early priorities heading into the busy summer months. Patients, providers and advocates across the region will be watching closely to see whether Huang’s tenure delivers more stable access to care and more consistent staffing inside clinics and hospitals.
