For five decades, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital has stood as a trusted source of compassionate, high-quality care for the communities it serves.
Few leaders have shaped that legacy as profoundly as Dave Fox. As the hospital celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is fitting that this milestone year also honors a leader whose vision and values helped define what Advocate Good Samaritan is today.
Dave Fox, president of Advocate Good Samaritan from 2003 to 2018, has been named the 2026 Good Samaritan of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, lifelong commitment to service, and enduring impact on the hospital and community.
Foundation rooted in service
Dave’s passion for health care was shaped early in life. Growing up on the southwest side of Chicago, he watched his father, a general surgeon, devote long days and nights to caring for patients. That example left a lasting impression.
"My father was at the hospital a lot. He worked six days a week, and many times, he’d get called in the middle of the night for emergencies," recalled Dave. "I was always impressed with his devotion to his patients."
Dave attended St. Ignatius College Prep before pursuing a liberal arts education at Haverford College in the suburbs of Philadelphia. During summer breaks, he worked in a variety of roles at the hospital where his father practiced.
"I really liked the people, and that’s when I started thinking about pursuing health care management," Dave shared. "After I graduated, I worked as a manager at a medical center, and it was a wonderful experience."
After two years, Dave returned to Chicago to earn his MBA at the University of Chicago while majoring in health care administration. Dave graduated in 1977 and began a 26-year career at Central DuPage Hospital before accepting the position of president at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in 2003.
"What attracted me most to Advocate Good Samaritan was the president of Advocate Health Care at the time, Jim Skogsbergh," explained Dave. "His values, principles, and vision for the future of Advocate Health Care inspired me. It was an easy decision."
A vision that transformed a hospital: Good to Great
When Dave arrived at Advocate Good Samaritan, he saw a hospital filled with dedicated professionals and untapped potential. However, it became quickly apparent that some significant changes needed to be made in order to best serve the community.
"Physician satisfaction levels were mixed; many didn’t feel supported by the hospital and didn’t feel valued. Nursing care was good in some areas but uneven in others, and patient satisfaction was low."
Inspired by a book of the same name, Dave and the hospital’s executive leadership team launched a bold commitment to make radical change called “Moving from Good to Great.”
"We were surrounded by high-quality health care providers, and we were slipping behind in the DuPage medical arms race," said Dave. "So, we focused on improving clinical outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and becoming the preferred place for physicians to practice."
"We knew we were putting a lot at stake,” he added. “Our credibility and reputation were on the line. Yet to stay on the hospital’s trajectory at the time would have been to risk mediocrity in the highly competitive marketplace."
The results were remarkable. In just a few years, outpatient satisfaction rose from the 7th percentile to the 99th, patient satisfaction exceeded the 90th percentile across nearly every area, and physician trust reached unprecedented levels.
"My leadership style was always to hire the best people, provide the support they needed, and then get out of the way," shared Dave. "I have always believed relationships are the foundation of accomplishment."
Setting the standard for excellence
During his tenure, Dave guided Advocate Good Samaritan to national recognition as one of the country’s leading hospitals.
The hospital achieved Magnet® Recognition for nursing excellence in 2009 and three additional times since.
In 2010, Advocate Good Samaritan received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence, the highest presidential recognition for organizational excellence. It remains the only hospital in Illinois to ever receive this distinction.
"For us, it was never about winning the award," Dave said. "It was about being award-worthy."
Philanthropy and service
Throughout Dave’s time at Advocate Good Samaritan, philanthropy played a vital role in hospital expansions, the acquisition of cutting-edge technology and equipment and the creation of critical hospital and community-based programs.
"People like to support organizations they can take pride in and trust," shared Dave.
Dave’s commitment to service reaches far beyond hospital walls. He has served on numerous civic, educational and community boards and has supported causes focused on health equity, access to care, education and social well-being.
"I have always believed in giving back. I’m fortunate to have started life on third base and recognize that many others do not."
Help continue his legacy
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is a nonprofit organization, and philanthropy remains essential to advancing care for our community.
You can honor Dave Fox’s legacy and help build upon the hospital’s first 50 years of compassionate, high-quality care by making a gift in celebration of this milestone year.