Nick Gaich
Nick Gaich is the founder and CEO of Nick Gaich and Associates, a firm dedicated to providing executive coaching, leadership development, strategic planning and operational performance.
Gaich has more than 35 years of experience. His range of expertise is concentrated in areas such as executive coaching, organizational development, supply chain management, customer service, service-line economics and clinical research infrastructure and operations.
Gaich retired in 2012 as Assistant Dean of Clinical and Translational Research Operations, Stanford Center of Clinical and Translational Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine. Previously, he served as Vice President of Customer Service and Materials Management and Service Line Administrator for the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. During his tenure, his department received the Stanford Hospital Malinda Mitchell Service Quality Department of the Year Award (the Stanford University equivalent of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award) and Stanford Hospital Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award, and became the first and only non-clinical department to earn such recognition.
Gaich also served three years as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Appleseed Healthcare Resources, a firm dedicated to providing senior operations leadership personnel and education to the healthcare industry
He held a two-year appointment on the Consortium Management Group, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
His extensive domestic experience is complemented by international experience gained from serving as subject matter expert on a health system design project for the Ministry of Health in Qatar, UAE. As the supply chain lead, Gaich modeled and integrated a complete supply chain design for a Specialty Teaching Hospital in the Qatar Foundation’s Education City. This project was a joint effort with Cornell University. Gaich also served as education partner A& I Health Care, a European logistics company.
Gaich holds a certification in Process Improvement from the Juran Institute of Quality Management and certification as Facilitator Organizational Management Training from Development Dimensions International. He graduated cum laude with a BBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration from National University of San Diego.
Gaich remains a much sought-after source on a wide range of topics related to healthcare providers, including executive leadership, change management, margin performance, supply chain optimization, organization and governance, operations improvement, organizational development, clinical research infrastructure and regulatory compliance and the future of healthcare. He has presented on these topics at the National Institute of Health, American Health Lawyers Association, National Council University Research, World Research Group Healthcare Revenue Cycle Conference, AAHC, Clinical Research Forum, National Council of University Research, American Health lawyers Association, IDN Summit & Expo, and the World Congress Leadership Summit on Healthcare Supply Chain Management, as well as conferences of the Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA), Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN).
Advancing the Profession through Performance
- Served as subject matter expert on a health system design project for the Ministry of Health in Qatar, UAE. As the supply chain lead, Gaich modeled and integrated a complete supply chain design for a Specialty Teaching Hospital in the Qatar Foundation’s Education City. This project was a joint effort with Cornell University.
- Recognized by McKinsey, CAPS Case Profile “Successful B2B e-marketplace deployment for early development and implementation of Hospital Ecommerce business practices.”
- Recognized by HealthCare Advisory Board, “Best Practice Model Supply Channel.
- Recognized by First Moves Magazine in 2003 as an “Innovator Healthcare Supply Chain.”
- Recognized by Healthcare Purchasing News in 2007 as one of “30 Influential Pros Worth Knowing.”
- Served as a guest lecture on U.S. Healthcare Supply Chain Best Practices in China as a faculty member of People to People International Exchange.
- Lectured U.S. Healthcare Supply Chain Best Practices in Clinical Service Line Management, University of Ulm, Germany.
- Submitted a Quality Management Process Inventory Project to Sen. Ted Kennedy’s Healthcare Advisory Panel.
- Earned the Health Care Material Management Society’s Extraordinary Achievement Award.
- Earned the Arthur Anderson Global Best Practices in Purchasing and Supply Channel Management Award.
- Designed the first “point-of-use” supply system for the Emergency Department.
- Designed the first distributor “stockless” supply system for Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Angiography/Special Procedural Department.
- Designed “Point-of-Use” Service Center supply distribution model embedding staff, management, distribution partners as a part of the nursing environment.
- Designed an effective materiel management supply chain strategic program that earned annually seven-figure savings.
- Extended Supply Chain into OR and ED with direct control over implantable devices reducing inventory cost and providing better controls.
- Received the Stanford Hospital Malinda Mitchell Service Quality Department of the Year Award (the Stanford University equivalent of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award) and Stanford Hospital Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award, and became the first and only non-clinical department to earn such recognition.
- Held a two-year appointment on the Consortium Management Group, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
- Recognized in Michael L. George’s “Lean Six Sigma for Service” book for his Supply Chain design and implementation efforts.
- Developed and Facilitated a National Mentoring initiative for Supply Chain Professionals in 2013 to develop the next generation of supply chain leaders.
Work Experience
- Nick Gaich and Associates, Morgan Hill, CA
- Chief Executive Officer (2005-present)
- A & I Healthcare International, Ulm, Germany
- Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Education and Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
- Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, Spectrum (2005-2010)
- Assistant Dean of clinical and Translational Research Operations (2010-2012)
- Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA
- Vice President of Customer Service and Materials Management and Service Line Administrator for the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (2000-2005)
- UCSF Stanford Health Care, San Francisco, CA
- Administrator of Materials Management 1991-1999
- Stanford University Hospital, Palo Alto, CA
- Assistant Director of Materials Management Stanford, California 1989 – 1991
- Sharp Health Care, San Diego, CA
- Associate Director of Materiel Management 1986 – 1989
- Assistant Managing Director – Purchasing and Warehouse Services, 1983 – 1986
- Lab Material Coordinator and Lab Assistant, 1979 – 1981
- Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA
- Warehouse/Receiving Supervisor, 1982 – 1983
- Buyer II, 1981-1982
Education
- Bachelor of Business Administration, National University of San Diego, January 1981
- Certifications:
- Juran Institute of Quality Management: Process Improvement
- Development Dimensions International: Facilitator Organizational Management Training
- Stanford Faculty Mentoring program
- Supply Chain Mentoring Challenge
Professional/Humanitarian Activities
- AHRMM
- AHRMM, San Diego Chapter
- IDN Summit Advisory Board Member
- Healthcare Materials Management Society Extraordinary Achievement Award
- Supply Chain Recognitions
- 1994 Stanford Hospital Malinda Mitchell Service Quality Department Award: Materials Management
- 1995 Stanford Hospital Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award
- 1995 HCMM Society Extraordinary Achievement Award
- 2000 Arthur Anderson Global Best Practices in Purchasing and Supply Channel
- Management Award
- 2000 McKinsey, CAPS Case Profile “Successful B2B e-marketplace deployment”
- 2003 HealthCare Advisor Board Recognition “Best Practice Model Supply Channel Management”
- 2003 Highlighted Case Study, Michael L George “Lean Six Sigma For Service”
- 2003 First Moves Magazine, “Innovator, Healthcare Supply Chain”
- 2004 Healthcare Advisory Board Recognition “Best Practice Purchasing Cost Containment Model”
- 2004 Novation Supply Chain Optimization Award
- 2006 Novation Supply Chain Top 10 Award
- 2007 Healthcare Purchasing News, one of “30 Most Influential Pros Worth Knowing”
- Presentations to:
- National Institute of Health
- American Health Lawyers Association
- National Council University Research
- World Research Group Healthcare Revenue Cycle Conference
- AAHC, Clinical Research Forum,
- National Council of University Research
- American Health lawyers Association
- IDN Summit & Expo
- World Congress Leadership Summit on Healthcare Supply Chain Management
- Child Healthcare Corporation of America
- Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management
- National Association of Neonatal Nurses
In His Own Words…
What do you think about Bellwether League Inc.’s mission and philosophy and how do you feel about becoming an Honoree?
Bellwether League’s mission and philosophy is timely, relevant and meaningful. I am both humbled and privileged in becoming a Bellwether honoree and hope that my experiences (success and failures) will allow others who come behind me to grow and contribute to the healthcare supply chain community.
What attracted and motivated you to join the healthcare supply chain management field when you did?
My attraction to healthcare is grounded in my desire to support the work and expertise of those who directly serve others in need of medical care. My desire has always been to contribute business structure and leadership that raises the level of professionalism, which in turn advances the healthcare industry. My motivation is having an opportunity to contribute and work alongside terrific individuals and through those contributions seeing individuals experience the pride of success both at a personal and professional level.
For what one contribution would you like to be most remembered?
Serving as a mentor and trusted professional.
If you were to encourage people – either outside of healthcare or just out of school – to enter healthcare supply chain management and strive to be a future Bellwether League Inc. Honoree, what would you tell them?
Stay true to yourself and your passion to contribute to a higher cause and be willing to engage all perspectives and opinions. Learn early that the value of humility of serving others will be your strongest attribute and that instilling trust both in yourself and others will be a central tenant of success.
I would share with them that true success is measured not in the number of projects or people that you lead or financial measures that you have realized, but in how you have impacted the lives of individuals and organizations in a meaningful and sustainable way.
- Be confident in who you are as a professional.
- Be humble on how you demonstrate your actions.
- Be courageous to take a risk.
- Surround yourselves with colleagues that will stretch your talents.
- Never stop exploring/learning.
What is the one industry challenge you would like to see solved in your lifetime?
Full industry transparency, aligned incentives and sustainable business model options.
How important is effective and innovative supply chain management during tough economic times?
[It’s a] top imperative.
In two sentences or less, what defines healthcare supply chain leadership?
Leaders that possess the moral will to do the right thing and the moral skill to figure out what doing the right thing means.