Biography

Henry Otero, MD, is a medical oncologist, lean health care consultant, and executive coach. Also a physician engagement expert, Henry believes improving processes and patient flow are essential to achieve personal and professional goals. With more than twenty years of experience practicing medicine and applying lean in health care, Henry has coached and worked with physician and leadership teams throughout the world on how to transform health care using a framework of continuous improvement.

Henry practiced medical oncology at Virginia Mason Medical Center, where he also served as section head of hematology and oncology. In addition to his medical practice and physician leadership at Virginia Mason, Henry was a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health.

Alongside his medical oncology practice and physician leadership roles, Henry is certified in lean and served as a transformation and executive sensei with the Virginia Mason Institute, successfully leading the transformation of oncology care through application of lean production and management systems.

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Pursuing the Perfect Patient Experience by Applying Lean to Healthcare
    Keynote Speaker, ISMETT-UPMC: II Quality International Symposium (Palermo, Italy, 2019)
  • How Leaders and Healthcare Professionals can Transform Healthcare Culture Together
    International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare (Amsterdam, 2018)
  • Driving QI Through Lean Transformation in the Ambulatory Setting
    PCPI Quality Improvement Leadership Circle, Loews Chicago O’Hare (Rosemont, IL, 2017)
  • Multiple Topics on Medical Quality Management
    4th and 5th Conference for Health Care (Fukuoka, Japan, 2016 and 2017)
  • What is Lean in Healthcare?
    Lean Health Meeting (Coimbra, Portugal, 2015)
  • Getting Physicians on Board with Lean
    Leadership Development Institute, Campbell County Memorial Hospital (Gillette, Wyoming, 2015)
  • Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Pursuit of the Perfect Patient Experience
    Women’s Care Florida Annual Retreat Reunion (Florida, 2014)
  • Transforming Healthcare Through Lean Management
    National Superintendents of Schools Roundtable (Seattle, Washington, 2014)
  • Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Pursuit of the Perfect Patient Experience
    Grand Rounds, College of Nursing & Health Professions and College of Medicine Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012)

Education

  • BS, physiology, Michigan State University
  • Fellowship, medical oncology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle
  • MD, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Residency, internal medicine, University of Virginia