Dr. David Zaas is heading back to Duke University Health System as its next chief executive, the system announced Wednesday. He is scheduled to start on May 1, 2026, taking charge of Duke’s hospitals, clinics and senior leadership team. Zaas returns to Durham after several years at the helm of major academic and regional health systems, stepping in as Duke continues to navigate post-pandemic financial and organizational pressures.
According to WRAL, the DUHS board chose Zaas following a national search and said he will report both to the DUHS board and to Duke University President Vincent E. Price. WRAL notes that board chair Nancy Schlichting called Zaas “the right person to lead DUHS during this challenging time for health care organizations,” and that Price also welcomed him to the role. The outlet reports that Zaas will work closely with Dr. Mary Klotman, executive vice president for health affairs and chief academic officer for Duke Health. The announcement was published March 25, 2026.
Career and credentials
Zaas most recently served as president and CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, an academic-clinical system with multiple hospitals and an expanding medical school footprint. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Duke records show he previously led Duke Raleigh Hospital and directed the lung transplant program at Duke. His biographies list a BA from Yale, an MD from Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, residency at Johns Hopkins, fellowship training at Duke, and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
A gap to fill
The hire follows the September 2025 announcement that then DUHS CEO Craig Albanese would step down to take a role with Kaiser Permanente, along with the interim management structure that followed while Duke carried out a national search. Duke Today reported Albanese’s departure and the launch of the search that ultimately led to Zaas. Duke leaders have said the next CEO must balance the health system’s academic mission with operational and financial stability across its network.
As CEO, Zaas will be responsible for “strategic and operational oversight” of Duke University Health System and its senior leadership team, WRAL reported, with early priorities expected to include stabilizing finances and maintaining clinical partnerships across the Triangle. His mix of academic credentials and system-level management experience, from transplant medicine to running multi-hospital operations, will likely draw close attention from physicians, staff and community leaders…