Grady Health System’s biggest fundraising night of the year doubled as a farewell.
The 16th annual White Coat Grady Gala raised more than $2 million on Sat., Oct. 24, a record for the event, while honoring CEO John Haupert, who is retiring after 15 years leading Atlanta’s public hospital system.
More than 600 business, civic, medical, and philanthropic leaders filled Flourish Atlanta for the evening. The money will support Grady’s efforts to expand access to care and develop new treatments, as well as its broader role in the community’s economy and quality of life, according to the Grady Health Foundation, the nonprofit that serves as the system’s private fundraising arm.
A record haul, and a reminder
Shan Cooper, who chairs the foundation’s board, said the record total shows how much Grady means to Atlanta.
“While Grady is asked to do more with less, our community continues to step up to ensure we can meet every challenge while saving lives, advancing medical care and making our community stronger,” Cooper said.
Grady is one of the largest safety-net health systems in the country, serving more than 2,000 patients each day, and its emergency department sees about 155,000 visits a year, according to figures the system released in March.
Beyond Grady Memorial Hospital downtown, the system runs 10 neighborhood health centers, three behavioral health centers, a behavioral health crisis center, and a long-term care facility.
Honoring Haupert
Caregivers, patients, and community leaders took the stage to describe what Grady has meant in their own lives and how Haupert’s tenure strengthened the system.
Haupert arrived at Grady in 2011 after serving as chief operating officer of Parkland Health in Dallas, and he chaired the American Hospital Association’s board in 2023.
“John Haupert is leaving Grady not just better than how he found it but poised to continue setting the global standards for medical care,” said Joselyn Baker, president of the Grady Health Foundation. “His leadership allowed Grady’s footprint to extend far beyond our downtown campus and be where people need us, giving everyone the opportunity to live their best life.”
That footprint is set to grow again. In March, Grady announced plans for a $1 billion medical center campus in South Fulton County. Haupert will remain with the system in an advisory role through 2027, offering guidance on that project.
Saul takes over in January
Anthony Saul, Grady’s president and chief operating officer, becomes CEO on Jan. 1, 2027. He joined Grady in 2019 as chief financial officer before moving into the COO role.
“Thank you for believing that Grady matters,” Saul told the audience. “With your support and partnership, we will continue to meet the growing needs of the community we serve by expanding our footprint. We will continue to save the lives that no other health system in our community can.”
