Richard J. Liekweg

Rich Liekweg is chief executive officer of BJC Health System, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States and the largest in the state of Missouri, serving urban, suburban, and rural communities across Missouri, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, and the greater Midwest region. One of the largest employers in Missouri, BJC operates as BJC HealthCare in its East Region and as Saint Luke’s in its West Region.

As chief executive officer, Rich oversees the nearly $12 billion health system, with 47,000 employees, 24 hospitals, and hundreds of clinics, service organizations and physician offices. Under Rich’s leadership, BJC Health System has been nationally recognized for both its clinical excellence and culture, while continuing BJC’s legacy of service with $1.2 billion in community benefit to its home markets.

A prominent health care industry executive with decades of experience leading large, multifaceted academic health care organizations, Rich joined BJC HealthCare in 2009 as president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and group president of BJC HealthCare. In 2015, Rich was promoted to executive vice president, and in 2017 to president of BJC HealthCare. In 2018, Rich was named BJC HealthCare’s CEO, and in 2024 he became CEO of BJC Health System.

Prior to joining BJC, Rich served as chief executive officer and associate vice chancellor of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center from 2003-2009. Before that, he spent nearly two decades at Duke University Health System in North Carolina.

Rich holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in health services administration and business administration, both from the University of Michigan. He serves on the boards of professional and community organizations including Vizient, Washington University, Cortex, Community Health Commission of Missouri, Missouri Hospital Association, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and BioSTL.