Joe Davis-Fleming ’86, LFACHE
Hospital Administrator/Management Consultant,
CURE Health Management Services
Executive Director, Juneau Symphony
Juneau, AK
If it seems like Joe Davis-Fleming ’86, FACHE is all over the map, it’s because he is. Physically. Culturally. Professionally.
Coming from his native culture— a mix of Mayan, Central American and Caribbean with some English grand and great grandfather physicians thrown in—he has always felt very much at ease working in culturally-diverse communities. A first-generation American growing up in Chicago, Davis-Fleming knew by age 7 that he wanted to work in health care, originally aspiring to become a doctor. In college, he discovered a talent—and distinct preference —for the business and administration side of health care.
Early in his career, he joined CURE International, a non-profit, faith-based organization that operates charitable hospitals and medical training programs in 26 countries. “This provided me a most rewarding and meaningful way to use my skills to serve the poor and work with many Christians. Trinity’s HCAD Program, the best decision I ever made—played a big part in developing those skills. I am forever grateful for being invited to be part of such a reputable academic institution and program, and be affiliated with the many highly-successful alumni health care leaders. We’re truly like a family.”
Davis-Fleming’s assignments with CURE, among many others, have included leading a teaching hospital in Afghanistan, being chief executive officer (CEO) of the LBJ Tropical Medicine Center in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and launching his first world-class teaching hospital in Bangladesh. He’s justifiably proud that it has remained the leading health care provider in that country.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Davis-Fleming’s experiences have ranged from completing a hospital during monsoon season to surviving dozens of life threatening situations including several bombings, and most recently a way-too-close encounter with a bear!
Even more daunting he claims is successfully navigating political and board governance dynamics during difficult periods of adjustment. “It takes some creative strategic problem solving to navigate through such challenges. My strong faith in God has carried me through the most difficult situations.” But the rewards are worth it. For Davis-Fleming that means “leaving an organization in much better financial, operational and patient care outcomes than when I first arrived.”
From Afghanistan, Davis-Fleming’s scope of responsibilities with CURE has expanded (he’s worked in or traveled to 55 countries) to overseeing other hospitals in their network and collaborating with and mentoring other hospital administrators from the host countries. His too-many-to-mention awards and honors “were all a surprise and I was flattered but I would much rather celebrate the accomplishments of my staff, colleagues, friends and family members.” Not surprisingly, he was honored as a Lifetime Fellow in ACHE earlier this year.
Currently, Davis-Fleming has taken on a “temporary stint” as executive director of the Juneau Symphony. The change in fields was relatively easy he says, because the skills he learned throughout his career are applicable to leading a successful high–profile arts organization. As a performing artist himself, he has performed in musical theater in Austin, Texas and Juneau, Alaska, and will have sung or acted in seven productions this season. As such, he easily relates to the organization’s issues and concerns. In his engaging fashion he says, “I love bringing the joy of music to a community that appreciates and celebrates the arts. I want to provide the best musical experience whether you are an orchestra musician or sitting in the audience, and for you to go home with a smile on your face.”
Although he loves his work with the Juneau Symphony, “I have not departed health care. It will always be my primary career passion. I intend to resume my global health care capacity-building work sometime in 2019, but not before seeing the Symphony through a very challenging transition. He aims to leave “a longtime legacy of business success and new future opportunities for his successor, board, staff, and the wonderful musicians.”
When he has a free moment, this gregarious whirlwind loves Fantasy Football and indulging in pizza, BBQ, craft beer, and coffee. His family is still based mainly in Chicago and Belize, and his son and daughter live in Austin. He delights in the fact that his under 30-year-old son, a creative art technologist, is following his career path having already visited more than 25 countries.
Obviously indefatigable, Davis-Fleming aspires “to lead an international health delivery model scale up, eventually become lead public health policy adviser/administrator for Alaska, U.S. Pacific Island Territories, my mother’s home country of Belize, complete my doctoral studies in global public health policy and administration, and set foot on my seventh and final continent—Antarctica.”
“I will always be in search of knowledge, my next challenge, my next adventure, and enduring friendships that include mentoring and guiding the next generation of talent.”
Words by Mary Denny
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