Samuel H. Turner, former Shawnee Mission Medical Center president and CEO, is the new Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.

Turner has more than 25 years of experience as a senior-level executive in large organizations. In previous roles, he provided cultural leadership, worked with boards of directors and built partnerships and referral relationships that strengthened overall business operations. Turner has served as a consultant in the UMKC School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion since May 2014.

“Diversity in healthcare affects patient care so it is critical to have qualified leadership in this area,” said UMKC School of Medicine Dean Steven L. Kanter, M.D. “We’re delighted Mr. Turner, who has run one of the largest hospitals in the Kansas City area with great success, is joining our team.”

Turner served as president and CEO at Shawnee Mission Medical Center from 2000 to 2011, managing a healthcare facility that earned top rankings in patient satisfaction and employee/physician engagement among all hospitals in the Adventist Health System. During his tenure, the hospital was selected as one of Solucient’s Top 100 Hospitals on multiple occasions, received the Kansas Award for Excellence and was recognized with various other quality awards.

Prior to his work at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Turner served in senior leadership roles at Lakeshore Health System, Inc., in East Chicago, Indiana; and at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland. He also launched a consulting firm that specialized in physician practices and hospitals, advising in areas such as reimbursement, compliance, office administration, marketing and legal matters.

Turner received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Tennessee State University and earned a law degree at Vanderbilt University.