Dia Nichols is a seasoned health care executive, well-rounded business strategist, and solutions-driven, inclusive leader. Skilled at turning crises into opportunities, he has over two decades of experience in providing strategic, operational, and financial leadership in challenging situations and complex environments. His agile ability to adapt and pivot, coupled with a deep understanding of market and industry trends, has enabled him to guide executive teams and boards to new horizons.
Dia is well-suited to bring his expertise to board service. Currently, he is an Illinois board member for the American Cancer Society and sits on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, with a focus on improving the health status of minority and underserved communities. He has leveraged his personal and professional networks to identify partnership opportunities for the committee and the organization overall.
Through a variety of executive positions in the health care industry, Dia has demonstrated success in leading operations, navigating change, and building collaborative partnerships. Currently, he is president of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and the Central Chicagoland Patient Service Area (PSA). This is the largest, and flagship service area for the entire Advocate Aurora Health System. In this role he oversees 10,000 employees, 4000 physicians, and profit and loss responsibility of $10 billion. This responsibility spans across 3 hospital campuses, and 72 physician clinic sites of care. With billions of dollars at stake, Dia serves as the strategist, and point person for service area growth while maintaining a robust culture of safety and team member engagement.
Dia’s executive experience includes serving as president and chief executive officer of AMITA Health – Alexian Brothers Medical Center, the flagship medical center for the largest hospital system in Illinois. For 18 years, he also held various positions of increasing leadership responsibility with HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Market Lead Executive.
The recipient of numerous professional recognitions, Dia was named to the Crains 2022 list of Notable Executives of Color in Health Care, by Modern Healthcare Magazine as an “Up and Comer,” by Richmond Magazine as a “Top Health Care Leader Under 40,” and by Style Weekly as the Richmond, VA, area’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Relentlessly devoted to community service, he is a member of the GOA Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary International, and served for seven years on the Executive Cabinet of the American Heart Association.
Dia earned a Master’s degree in Health Administration from Indiana University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from South Carolina State University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the National Association of Health Services Executives. He and his wife, Andrea have two children and live in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL
