50 Most Influential Physician Executives – 2016
Rank: 47
Lynn Massingale
Co-founder and executive chairman, TeamHealth
Dr. Lynn Massingale struck gold in 1979 when he and a partner founded a physician-staffing company in Knoxville, Tenn. The firm replaced physician rotation in hospital emergency rooms with dedicated, outsourced doctors. Today, physicians employed at TeamHealth see 10% of all ER patients across the country and the company annually recruits 20% of all ER residents nationwide. Massingale says managing those doctors is easy since, like most clinicians, they typically bring a mission for their work that transcends a mere paycheck. Massingale, 63, who will groom a successor to take over as board chairman in 2018, said he almost didn't live to see TeamHealth's rise. While piloting a boat on the Tennessee River 25 years ago, he was struck by a lightning bolt thrown by gathering storm clouds as he headed for shore. The first thing he remembered after the strike was being treated for blown-out ear drums by a TeamHealth emergency doctor. "I resolved then to revel more in the small victories," he said.