This year’s Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Gala honored “hospital hero” Ralph W. Muller, who will be stepping down next month after 17 years as CEO of the health system. The gala brought together staff, partners, patients, and donors to celebrate an exceptional individual whose vision has transformed Philadelphia’s health care landscape, expanded Penn Medicine’s footprint throughout the region, and improved access to exceptional patient care. But I’d also like to shed light on Ralph’s immense impact on PPMC.
Before Ralph came to Penn Medicine, there were a lot of questions about PPMC’s role in the health system. Were we a teaching community hospital focused on primary care? Were we trying to compete with HUP? The reality was that we were doing something new. We were building volume in southern New Jersey, strategically anchoring primary and specialty services in community practices, and demonstrating excellence in cardiology and orthopaedics — but we needed the investment of the health system to grow. Ralph’s first question to me was, “Why don’t you make more money?” and I replied, “Because we’re not given the capital we need to build.” He changed that. When we later came to a crossroads and ultimately took on our Trauma program, it was with Ralph’s full support and guidance, and we were set on a course for continued reorganization and evolution.
Ralph supported us in building volume at Presby, unlike other CEOs who might only cut their way out of a problem. He knew from day one that Penn Medicine was a brand, and he demonstrated the courage to capitalize on that brand — to take the leap to build new facilities, invest in infrastructure, and push the edges of the health system. His glass-half-full attitude, conviction, loyalty, and competitive streak have established him as an incredible leader. Not only has he supported the incubation of groundbreaking innovations that have reshaped 21st century health care delivery, but he also motivated me tremendously and helped me to think of things in new ways.
We are proud to carry on his legacy and to continue to improve the health and well-being of our community through research, education, clinical care, and service.