Gary A. Shaw is a seasoned healthcare executive and Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (LFACHE), bringing more than four decades of leadership across hospitals and healthcare organizations from Massachusetts to Alaska. His career includes 20 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

 

Gary most recently served as President and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a community hospital within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) system. During his tenure, he guided the hospital and island community through the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced Whole Person Care principles (mind, body, and spirit), implemented measurable quality innovations, and elevated the hospital to national recognition as a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. He also  co-visioned and commissioned a Boston Pops fundraising production that earned a Gold Telly Award, bringing national visibility to both the hospital and the Nantucket community.

 

Prior to Nantucket, Gary served as President of Cambridge Medical Center, an 86-bed Allina Health facility, where he led system-wide quality and care-delivery improvements. He established Allina’s first $9 million Whole Person Care outpatient clinic and advanced integrated behavioral-health, primary-care, and community-care models across the system.

 

Earlier in his career, Gary served as Administrator of the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), a 158-bed regional referral and teaching hospital serving Alaska Native and American Indian communities. He partnered closely with Southcentral Foundation in their Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award journey, strengthening quality, alignment, and service delivery across the ANMC campus.

 

Gary’s 20-year naval career began in 1977 when he enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman. He later commissioned into the Medical Service Corps, serving during four wars and completing multiple overseas tours. His final deployment included serving as a Navy Environmental Health Advisor to the United Nations during the Bosnian War, where he provided public health, occupational health, and administrative leadership.

 

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare/Business Administration from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. He is also a graduate of Intermountain Healthcare’s Advanced Training Program (ATP) in Clinical Quality Improvement—widely recognized as a premier fellowship-level program preparing leaders in quality, safety, and performance improvement. He earned an Executive Professional Coaching Certificate from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.  Harvard Medical School (MCSO) -  Guest Speaker (by invitation).

 

Today, Gary brings his decades of experience, servant-leader philosophy, and Christ-centered integrity to Shaw Healthcare Consulting, where he partners with executives, boards, and healthcare organizations seeking growth, clarity, and meaningful transformation.