Health care provider Kaiser Permanente said that its chairman and CEO, Bernard J. Tyson, died unexpectedly at the age of 60 on Nov. 10.
Tyson was the first African American to head Kaiser Permanente as CEO when he took that position in 2013 after filling a number of roles over three decades at the company.
No other details were provided in the company’s announcement, which said that Tyson died in his sleep.
Tyson is survived by his wife, Denise Bradley-Tyson, and three sons, Bernard J. Tyson Jr., Alexander and Charles.
Dr. Cozzette Lyons-Jones, president-elect of the Association of Black Women Physicians, said Tyson was scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from ABWP the same that he passed away.
Noting Tyson’s impact on healthcare, Lyons-Jones said, “Mr. Tyson was revolutionary in tackling the barriers to achieving access to affordable, quality healthcare by caring about the whole person, including the context within which people live, work and socialize.
“A Black man, he championed the cause of health justice not only in his own community, but for all minority communities, individuals with mental illness, the disabled, and the LGBTQ+ community. Mr. Tyson left an indelible imprint on the healthcare landscape, without debate. ABWP was privileged to be the first organization to publicly pay tribute in the wake of the passing of this iconic man in our industry,” she added.
The board of directors has named executive vice, President Gregory Adams as interim chairman and CEO.
Tyson, who worked at Kaiser Permanente for more than 30 years in roles including hospital administrator and chief operating officer, had been on Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people and one of the “Health Care 50.”
Executive committee chair, Edward Pei called Tyson “an exceptional colleague, a passionate leader and an honorable man.”
“We will greatly miss him,” Pei said in the company’s news release. He added that the board “has full confidence in Greg Adams’ ability to lead Kaiser Permanente through this unexpected transition.”
Oakland, California-based Kaiser Permanente grew under Tyson’s leadership from 9.1 million members and 174,000 employees to 12.3 million members and 218,000 employees, according to the company. Its network of 17,000 physicians grew to 23,000, and annual revenue increased from $53 billion to more than $82.8 billion.
The head of Covered California, an independent state agency that focuses on health insurance, said Tyson’s “vision and laser focus on increasing access, quality and affordable health care coverage for all has helped transform Kaiser and had a positive impact on the entire health care system.”
“His efforts will have a lasting imprint on California and the nation,” said the agency’s executive director, Peter Lee, in a statement.
Tyson also was on the boards of the American Heart Association and Salesforce. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and deputy chairman of the Americas of the International Federation of Health Plans.
A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Tyson received a bachelor’s degree in health service management and an MBA in health service administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
While at Kaiser Permanente, he was a member of the Bay Area Council, a business-led public policy organization advocating for a strong economy for area residents.
