Bucknell University President John Bravman elected Chair of Geisinger Health Foundation Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DANVILLE, PA -- Bucknell University President John Bravman elected Chair of Geisinger Health Foundation Board of Directors
Danville, Pa. – Bucknell University President John Bravman has been elected chairman of the Geisinger Health Foundation Board of Directors. He succeeds William Alexander, who served as board chair from 2011-2016.
“John Bravman is a highly respected, dynamic and innovative leader with a long history of success,” said Geisinger Health System President and CEO David Feinberg, MD, MBA. “He is guiding Bucknell through an extraordinary period of growth and achievement, and the Geisinger family looks forward to his leadership as our board chairman.”
Dr. Bravman’s election to board chair underscores what is already a robust partnership between Geisinger and Bucknell that includes numerous collaborations between doctors, researchers and students, spanning departments and academic disciplines at both institutions. One example is the Geisinger-Bucknell Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute. The Lewisburg-based research and treatment facility represents a unique partnership between an undergraduate institution and a major health system. Geisinger and Bucknell also have a history of being represented on each other’s boards. Dr. Feinberg was recently elected to Bucknell’s Board of Trustees, and Dr. Bravman has served as a member of Geisinger’s board since 2012. Both positions are uncompensated.
“Geisinger has established itself as an extraordinary and innovative leader in health services. I treasure our partnership, and I am deeply honored to serve in this new capacity,” said Dr. Bravman. “Bucknell and Geisinger share a commitment to our communities and a vision for innovation and excellence that benefits not just our respective constituents, but society as a whole.”
Named Bucknell’s 17th president on July 1, 2010, Dr. Bravman has steadily built a foundation of support with the university’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, partner organizations and community. During his tenure, Bucknell launched the public phase of the largest comprehensive capital campaign in its history, with a goal of raising half a billion dollars for strategic university initiatives. Academic West, Bucknell’s first new academic building in nearly a decade, opened in 2013, and a new residential quad, the South Campus Apartments, opened in 2015. The university will establish a third college – the College of Management – in July 2017, positioning Bucknell to offer a truly distinct, interdisciplinary undergraduate experience.
Dr. Bravman’s leadership has also led to a significant increase in the demand for a Bucknell education, with nearly 11,000 students applying for admittance to the Class of 2019 — the most in University history and a 40 percent increase from the previous year. Through his formation of both the President’s Diversity Council and the President’s Sustainability Council, Dr. Bravman has also reaffirmed and strengthened Bucknell’s commitment to these core institutional and educational values.
Prior to joining Bucknell, Bravman spent 35 years at Stanford University, where he led the undergraduate program as the vice provost for undergraduate education. He played a critical role in Stanford’s Campaign for Undergraduate Education, which raised more than $1.1 billion. In recognition of his accomplishments, Stanford awarded him the university’s highest honors for both teaching (1989) and lifetime service (2010).
The author of more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, he has been cited in nearly 5,000 publications by scientists and engineers around the world. A tenured professor of electrical engineering, he has taught primarily in the fields of materials structure and analysis, thin-film mechanical phenomena, microelectronic reliability, and high-temperature superconductivity. He has patented two coatings that may make coronary stents safer for heart disease patients.
“Bill Alexander did a tremendous job serving as board chair over the past six years, and we thank him for his leadership, dedication and service,” said Dr. Feinberg. “With John Bravman as our new board chair, we are also in great hands moving forward.”
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
About Bucknell University
Founded in 1846 and located along the banks of the Susquehanna River in historic Lewisburg, Pa., Bucknell University is a selective, highly ranked national university where liberal arts and professional programs complement each other. Students choose from more than 50 majors and 60 minors in the arts, engineering, humanities, management, and natural and social sciences, as well as extensive global study, service-learning and research opportunities. Bucknell’s 3,600 undergraduate and 100 graduate students enjoy a low 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and exceptional opportunities to collaborate with faculty mentors on scholarly and artistic projects. Bucknell co-curricular opportunities include more than 150 student clubs and organizations plus 27 Division I athletic teams, offering students outstanding leadership and social opportunities.