OSF HealthCare has once again been recognized by Fortune as one of America's Most Innovative Companies for 2025. OSF first received this distinction in 2023. 

This ranking is highly competitive, with only the top 300 companies selected from thousands analyzed. Winners were determined by Fortune and Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, through a rigorous evaluation process that included a survey of 40,000 U.S. employees and 2,500 industry experts, as well as patient data and expert advisory board reviews. Organizations were assessed in three key areas: product innovation, process innovation, and innovation culture.

Of the 300 U.S. companies with the highest score awarded by Fortune as America’s Most Innovative Companies 2025 OSF was rated at 264 overall with an improvement in its culture (249) and process (202) scores from 2023. OSF was the only health care system in Illinois to make the list.

The recognition highlights significant strides by OSF in integrating forward-thinking solutions to enhance patient care and operational excellence.

“This honor reaffirms that innovation isn’t just something we do — it’s who we are,” said Bob Sehring, CEO of OSF HealthCare. “From groundbreaking treatments to AI-driven advancements, OSF is leading the charge in transforming health care.”

OSF HealthCare continues to make headlines for pioneering advancements, including:

• A historic first: Successfully implanting the world’s first extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) in a 2-year-old patient who suffered sudden cardiac arrest.
   
• Faster, seamless cancer care: Launching a rapid access program at OSF Cancer Institute to speed up and streamline patient access.
   
• At-home pediatric monitoring: Developing a program for RSV and other respiratory illnesses to reduce hospital visits.
   
• AI-powered rare disease detection: Utilizing AI and Large Language Models to enhance primary care diagnostics.
   
• Revolutionizing concussion diagnosis: Creating FlightPath, a cloud-based app that uses AI and eye-tracking to diagnose concussions within minutes.
   
• Enhancing clinical efficiency: Piloting AI-driven software that listens to clinician-patient conversations and generates real-time clinical documentation.
   
• Advancing early cancer detection: Testing AI technology to improve the identification of potential cancerous polyps during colonoscopies.
   
• Shaping the future of AI in health care: As one of 38 payers and providers partnering with the White House, OSF is helping define responsible AI-driven change in the industry.
  
   

“Since our founding in 1877, innovation has been the heartbeat of our Mission,” said Michelle Conger, president of OSF HealthCare. “Being named one of America’s Most Innovative Companies for the second time reflects our relentless pursuit of cutting-edge solutions, from leveraging AI to empowering our frontline Mission Partners to bring transformative ideas to life.”

Learn more about America’s Most Innovative Companies and the Fortune recognition, visit Fortune.com. 

To explore how OSF is reshaping the future of health care, tune in to the OSF HealthCare Accelerated podcast on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts.

Sister Agnes Joseph Williams, O.S.F., chairperson of OSF Healthcare Ministries, has announced that Bob Sehring, chief executive officer, has shared his intention to retire in April of 2026. To facilitate a smooth transition, Michelle Conger will assume the role of president of OSF HealthCare on January 1, 2025, and will then succeed Sehring as chief executive officer when he retires.

“It is with deep gratitude that we honor Bob’s extraordinary contributions to OSF HealthCare. Under his leadership, our Ministry has achieved remarkable milestones, including strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions serving 17 communities with hospitals, providing care for more than 1 million patients this past year, demonstrating strong leadership through the pandemic and the post impacts on our health system, advancements in oncology services including the opening of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria earlier this year, and an unwavering commitment to rural health care,” said Sister Agnes Joseph.

“Michelle’s impact on our Ministry has been wide-reaching including leading strategic and innovative approaches to keeping OSF at the forefront of the changes in providing health care for our communities. Her leadership and dedication to operational excellence will ensure the continued success of our Ministry.”

Sehring joined OSF in 2002 as vice president for Business Support Services for OSF HealthPlans, Inc.  He was promoted to chief executive officer of that organization in 2004. In 2013, Bob was appointed chief Ministry Services officer before being named chief executive officer of the Central Region for OSF HealthCare in 2015. He became CEO of the Ministry in 2017.

“Serving the sacred Ministry of OSF HealthCare has been a deep blessing in my life. The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis have long served as a touchstone for me, and all Mission Partners (employees), that ensures we strive to serve every person with the greatest care and love,” said Sehring. “Looking to the future, I have the utmost confidence that Michelle will lead the Ministry with a focus on doing what is best for our patients by providing compassionate and advanced care to our communities for years to come.”

Conger began her career at OSF in 1993 in a clinical capacity and as a 6 Sigma Black Belt at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She has been the chief strategy officer since 2010 and chief executive officer of OSF OnCall Digital Health since 2018. Conger has led the digital strategy for OSF to produce new and innovative virtual care models to drive transformation and achieve excellence which is recognized throughout the health care industry.

“I am truly honored for the trust the Sisters and Bob are placing in me as the next CEO for our Ministry,” Conger shared. “OSF HealthCare has flourished under Bob’s leadership, and I look forward to our continued collaboration to advance health care for the communities we serve. Health care continues to evolve, and we will prioritize ensuring OSF is a leader in meeting the expectations of our patients and advances in clinical excellence.”

Bob Sehring clips

Michelle Conger clips

The 100 top companies in Illinois were ranked with OSF HealthCare coming in at 80 including ranking in the top ten for healthcare and social organizations. The Peoria, Illinois-based integrated health system is founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. OSF employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners (employees) in 150+ locations, including 16 hospitals throughout Illinois and Michigan.

“We can only deliver on our Mission to serve persons with the greatest care and love if we attract and retain the best, most committed Mission Partners to meet the needs of our patients. To accomplish this, we continue to focus considerable time, energy and resources on one of our goals which is to be an Employer of Choice,” said Bob Sehring, CEO, OSF HealthCare. “Receiving this recognition for the sixth year in a row reinforces the great work being done across our Ministry in engaging, attracting, recruiting, and retaining those committed to our Mission.”

America's Best Employers by State 2024 were based on 4.4 million employer recommendations from employees working for companies with more than 500 employees in the United States. The recommended employers were from all industry sectors. Employers with operations in more than one state were ranked in multiple states.

The evaluation was made on a state-by-state basis and is based on two distinct criteria:

• Personal Evaluations: Employees' willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family.
• Public Evaluations: Recommendations from friends and family members of employees, or members of the public who work in the same industry.

This recognition reinforces the commitment by OSF Mission Partners and leadership to provide an exceptional workplace environment and employment opportunities.

Find the complete Forbes list here.

As part of the five-year agreement, OSF HealthCare will provide Illinois State University athletes with access to athletic trainers, sports medicine providers, orthopedic surgeons and behavioral health professionals.

“We are excited to continue building our partnership with ISU and proud to be part of the Redbird fan club in an official capacity as the health care provider of Illinois State University Athletics. This new partnership reinforces our dedication to providing high quality health care to the Bloomington-Normal communities and extends that to the ISU athletes,” said Lynn Fulton, president, OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center.   

Robert Seidl, MD, will serve as the medical director of the ISU program and will work closely with Karan Rai, MD, a sports medicine physician with OSF HealthCare.

“Continuing to care for Illinois State Redbirds year after year is a passion of mine,” said Dr. Seidl. “I enjoy working with the athletes and supporting their ongoing health and wellness. The partnership with OSF HealthCare is a great addition and will elevate the breadth and depth of services for the student athletes.”

Illinois State University Interim President Dr. Aondover Tarhule is pleased that the partnership with OSF HealthCare continues to grow.

“Illinois State is proud of its student athletes and their remarkable achievements in the classroom and in competition. They put in long hours and great effort to excel in their studies and in their sports,” said Dr. Tarhule. “Supporting our student athletes in their pursuit of excellence is vitally important. This new partnership with OSF ensures that they have a team of dedicated and caring healthcare professionals in their corner as they study, train, and compete.”

OSF Healthcare and ISU both have a long history of being embedded in this area. ISU was founded in 1857, and the sisters of the Order of St. Francis opened what is now OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in 1880. Throughout the years, the two long-standing organizations have worked together for the good of the community. The two organizations in March launched a joint research partnership, the Connected Communities Initiative (CCI) to bring together clinicians, university faculty researchers and students to explore innovative ideas to improve health care with a focus on medical engineering, data science and cybersecurity.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes is the top priority for our department, and our partnership with OSF HealthCare will help us fulfill that mission,” said ISU Interim Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs. “OSF brings to the table a comprehensive, compassionate approach to physical and mental health care that aligns perfectly with our goals.  Also, it’s exciting for our athletics programs to join in on the collaboration of an academic partnership that the University announced with OSF HealthCare earlier this year.”

The athletic partnership launches with the first home football game when the ISU Redbirds take on Dayton on Saturday, September 2.                                               

Video clips with OSF Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Robert Seidl and ISU Interim Athletic Director Jerri Beggs

The program is a formalization of the partnership between these two anchor institutions in Bloomington-Normal and the broader OSF HealthCare system. Illinois State and OSF HealthCare are lead hub members of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN). The collaborative work in the Connected Communities Initiative has the potential to generate intellectual property that the two institutions can share and advance the IIN mission of driving inclusive and integrated research, innovation, and economic development across the state.

The agreement also provides a financial foundation for the work with both organizations providing $500,000 each, to contribute a total of $1 million annually for research and development of strategic solutions to improve health care delivery, and patient and provider experience.

“We believe expanding academic collaborations can help us create innovative solutions and new care models that provide more access, particularly to underserved populations,” said CEO of OSF HealthCare Bob Sehring.

“Working with OSF HealthCare on the CCI Program reflects Illinois State’s core values of Collaboration, Learning and Scholarship, and Civic Engagement,” said Illinois State Interim President Aondover Tarhule. “This partnership will provide many opportunities for Illinois State faculty and students to work with our partners at OSF on a wide range of innovative projects that address real-world needs. This is truly an exciting project that will have wide-ranging benefits for all involved.”

The partnership will initially build on Illinois State’s expertise in education, health, cybersecurity, biomedical science, visualization, and process improvement. There will be opportunities for Illinois State’s academic colleges to collaborate on projects with OSF Healthcare. The broad range of faculty expertise and the engagement from the student body will lead to exciting new solutions to complex problems facing society.

“There is a long tradition of partnership between OSF and Illinois State, perhaps most clearly with students in clinical placements and in clinical situations,” said Craig C. McLauchlan, PhD, Illinois State’s associate vice president for Research and Graduate Studies. “The CCI expands that relationship in the area of research and provides an institutional framework that will allow us to build on already existing collaborations more easily. The partnership will provide students and persons in our community opportunities to contribute to innovation and growth that will benefit many.”

OSF Healthcare and Illinois State University have a tradition of collaboration on research, including a recent project to improve low childhood vaccination rates. 

Joint projects can include testing solutions in clinical spaces, such as OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center and medical offices. The efforts will take place both virtually and in-person in a variety of settings including ISU labs and computer centers, along with Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, a world-class building with labs focused on advanced imaging and modeling, blockchain, children’s innovation, genomics and precision medicine, interprofessional education, neuro health, and STEAM.

“For OSF HealthCare, the expanded partnership will support the needs of researchers, medical educators, clinicians and most importantly, patients,” added John Vozenilek, MD, vice president and chief medical officer, OSF Innovation and Digital Health. “The brightest minds at Illinois State University can help us develop novel solutions with enhanced security and business processes to improve patient care and health outcomes, along with optimizing the use of resources using data.” Vozenilek adds, “That will become increasingly important as care continues to move from hospital settings to home and as we expand access to patients across all of the regions OSF serves.”

The CCI is built upon successful models that OSF Healthcare has developed and maintains with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois-Chicago, and Bradley University.

Video clips with Bob Sehring, Dr. John Vozenilek, Lynn Fulton, Aondover Tarhule, and Craig McLauchlan

B-roll from OSF-ISU partnership announcement

Chicago ARC, along with new partners  OSF HealthCare, Americare Senior Living, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Insight Hospital and Medical Center, and Illinois Tech join a collaborative of leading organizations to create the most ambitious partnership to tackle healthcare inequities through market-driven, community-informed solutions and attraction of startups that will support the region’s underserved populations.

The Chicago ARC venture collaborative announced today its partners voted to advance equity in the management of chronic diseases and access to quality behavioral health services, including those for substance use disorder, through collaborative approaches and solutions as the outcome of its inaugural convening. The meeting included founding health care partners representing nearly 750 health care delivery and training locations across Illinois and neighboring states.

Partners aligned on a vision to create a community of health innovation in Chicago and across Illinois and the Midwest, accelerating community-relevant innovation, technology, and partnerships, as well as positioning the region as a global destination for innovators and startups looking to transform healthcare and impact society. Chicago ARC partners will create collaboration and impact in the initial healthcare focus areas by sharing best practices through workshops and exchanges, collaboratively developing and evaluating new approaches, and serving as a network to pilot and scale innovative solutions.

By doing so, the partners will create replicable models to improve access, quality, cost of care, and address health inequities and social determinants of health.   

“Chicago ARC brings together the best global technology, startups and care models with the health equity needs of healthcare providers and the communities they serve” commented Chicago ARC Executive Director, Kate Merton, Ph.D., M.B.A. “Today, we are able to share incredible progress toward defining collaboration priorities where, together with our partners, we can drive equitable innovation to transform health care in Chicago, Illinois, and across the Midwest. And, by focusing on real-world needs that represent urban and rural communities across the U.S., we will bring technologies to market significantly faster than the traditional incubator and accelerator approaches.”

Chicago ARC's Healthcare Partners will define health equity market needs, contribute best practices, and serve as committed pilot sites and customers for technologies that meet defined solution requirements.

Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., M.B.A., former President of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health, and North American Ambassador, Sheba Medical Center and ARC, noted "Chicago ARC is taking radical collaboration to the next level by bringing together the amazing traditional healthcare ecosystem in Chicago and fourth industrial revolution technologies to bring population health, social determinants, and health equity from philosophic and academic exercises to the mainstream of clinical care in Chicago and beyond."

Founding Healthcare Partner, UIUC, along with Illinois Tech are the first institutions to join as Founding Innovation Partners, which means they have formalized a commitment of their expertise and capabilities to support the success of health systems and startups.

“The Chicago ARC and its network of leading partner organizations creates the ideal way for Sheba to translate our learnings and best practices to the U.S. healthcare market.  The commitment, collaboration, and expertise of the partners at the table demonstrates why the Chicago ARC model and this region are the perfect place for Sheba and our startup network to focus in the U.S.,” added Professor Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director General, Chief Transformation Officer, and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba Medical Center.

The Chicago ARC additionally announced the finalized partnership agreement with Sheba to make it the North American epicenter for the Newsweek Global Top-10 Hospital’s global startup network.  Sheba will also collaborate with Chicago ARC partners on sharing and developing technology-based care model best practices.

"Making Chicago the preferred destination for groundbreaking startups is a top priority for World Business Chicago", stated WBC CEO Michael Fassnacht. "The Chicago ARC and its significant network of healthcare and innovation partners are delivering on the vision for Chicago and Illinois as the global hub for health equity innovation. The resulting collaborations and approaches will move the needle on equitable healthcare locally and create replicable models that scale across the U.S." 

Additional video clips with John Vozenilek, MD, vice president/chief medical officers OSF Innovation & Digital Health

What other new Chicago ARC partners say:

Michael Hammond, Americare Senior Living President and COO: “Americare Senior Living is a trusted name in senior living throughout Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi because of our person-centered approach.  The Chicago ARC partnership allows Americare to use technology and data to make a difference in the lives of our residents, their families, and our employees across 142 senior living communities through access to startups, approaches, collaborations, and capabilities not usually accessible to a senior care company.”

Robert J. Jones, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor: “Partnering with the Chicago ARC will help the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign harness our groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship-focused education, and statewide connectivity to lead the way in technology-inspired care. Working together with the Chicago ARC and fellow partners we can advance health equity and economic development in Illinois while building the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals.”

Dillon Bannis, M.D., Insight Hospital and Medical Center Chief Medical Officer: “Insight Hospital and Medical Center is dedicated to transforming healthcare and delivering world class, compassionate expert care to every patient we serve. Through partnering with Chicago ARC, we look forward to developing new care models and leveraging cutting edge technology to increase access to high quality care for our community in Bronzeville."

Raj Echambadi, Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology President: “Illinois Tech is committed to liberating the collective power of difference to advance technology and progress for all. As the only technology-focused university in the global city of Chicago, Illinois Tech brings a purpose-driven focus to education, research, and innovation while serving as an engine for opportunity and economic mobility. We are excited to partner with Chicago ARC to empower health system partners and startups in their mission to innovate and solve some of the most pressing challenges facing healthcare today.”

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The Chicago ARC is on a mission to accelerate tomorrow's healthcare solutions to those in need today. Its venture collaborative is a new model for equitable health innovation that invests in and grows startups that support collaboratively defined needs and care models at home, in the hospital, and in the community. The Chicago ARC provides an engine to open up the third largest U.S. healthcare market to solutions that can impact health equity at scale bringing together top startups with experienced operators, investment capital and a cross-sector partner network.  Chicago ARC builds upon the proven ARC model (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) of Sheba Medical Center — a Newsweek Top-10 Global Hospital. More at chicagoarc.health.