Mikaitis’ nomination hearing before the Cook County Board of Commissioners is expected to take place Oct. 23, and the board is slated to vote on his appointment the next day.
“Dr. Mikaitis stood out in the field of multiple high-caliber candidates for his commitment to quality and process improvement, strategic vision and dedication to the health system’s mission,” Lyndon Taylor, chair of the Cook County Health board of directors, said in a statement.
Mikaitis joined Cook County Health in September 2022 and had been responsible for the direction, coordination and oversight of quality improvement, risk management, regulatory compliance, patient safety and other health system functions.
During his time there, he implemented several quality initiatives to improve patient outcomes across Cook County Health. One specific program resulted in improved sepsis prevention and treatment, the health system previously said.
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Before Cook County Health, Mikaitis was vice president and chief medical officer for Franciscan Health Crown Point in Indiana.
A board-certified internal medicine physician, Mikaitis holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois Chicago, a master of business administration degree from DePaul University and a medical degree from Ross University.
Cook County Health was the seventh-largest health system in the Chicago area by 2023 revenue, according to Crain’s data. The organization operates Stroger and Provident hospitals, as well as its own Medicaid and Medicare Advantage health plans.
Cook County Health’s budget is expected to grow 21% to $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2025. The system anticipates spending more on healthcare next year as the number of people enrolled in CountyCare, the system's Medicaid managed care plan, continues to rise. The county expects 28,000 more members next year, totaling nearly 400,000 people.
WBEZ was first to report news of Mikaitis’ nomination.
This story first appeared in Crain's Chicago Business.