Background
Bernard J. Tyson was born on January 20, 1959, in Vallejo, California to Billie Tyson, a homemaker, and Moses Tyson, a minister.
San Francisco, California, United States
Tyson enrolled at Golden Gate University. While still in college, Tyson worked as an administrative analyst for Vallejo General Hospital. He earned his B.S. degree in health service management in 1982, and went on to receive his M.B.A. degree from Golden Gate University in 1984.
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
(L-R) Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent, Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and University of Arizona Professor of Clinical Medicine Victoria Maizes attend The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
Pocantico, New York, United States
dam Bryant, Dr. Dean Ornish and Bernard J. Tyson speaks onstage at Carrots, Sticks and Treadmills panel at The New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
Pocantico, New York, United States
POCANTICO, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Bernard J. Tyson, Dean Ornish, Adam Bryant attend the New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, USA
Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell pose backstage at The New York Times DealBook Conference at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The New York Times )
2016
New York City, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente Inc., speaks during the New York Times DealBook conference in New York, U.S., on Thursday, November 10, 2016. The event brings together CEOs, leading figures in finance, and experts from diverse industries to assess the challenges and opportunities that will define the deal world of tomorrow. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2017
New York, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer, speaks during the CEO Initiative event in New York, U.S., on Monday, September 25, 2017. The CEO Initiative brings together the CEOs of some of the worlds most enlightened companies to exchange best practices and leadership techniques, develop actionable solutions, and track tangible progress. Photographer: Misha Friedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2017
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente Inc., speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Monday, May 1, 2017. The conference is a unique setting that convenes individuals with the capital, power and influence to move the world forward meet face-to-face with those whose expertise and creativity are reinventing industry, philanthropy and media. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson speaks during the 29th annual Conference of the Professional Businesswomen of California (PBWC) on April 24, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The PBWC is a day of keynote speakers and seminars by top female leaders and panels of industry experts. (April 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America)
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson speaks during the 29th annual Conference of the Professional Businesswomen of California (PBWC) on April 24, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The PBWC is a day of keynote speakers and seminars by top female leaders and panels of industry experts. (April 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America)
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente, speaks during the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, September 13, 2018. The event brings together industry and political leaders working on improving the conditions and concerns facing climate in the world today. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
(L-R) Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent, Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and University of Arizona Professor of Clinical Medicine Victoria Maizes attend The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Chairman and CEO Kaiser Permanente, Bernard J. Tyson attends the New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2014
San Francisco, California, United States
Moderator Elisabeth Rosenthal, The New York Times Domestic Correspondent (L) and Chairman and C.E.O. of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, speak onstage during The New York Times Health For Tomorrow Conference at Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF on May 29, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
Pocantico, New York, United States
Chairman and CEO Kaiser Permanente, Bernard J. Tyson attends the New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
Pocantico, New York, United States
dam Bryant, Dr. Dean Ornish and Bernard J. Tyson speaks onstage at Carrots, Sticks and Treadmills panel at The New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
Pocantico, New York, United States
POCANTICO, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Bernard J. Tyson, Dean Ornish, Adam Bryant attend the New York Times Food For Tomorrow Conference 2016 on September 27, 2016 in Pocantico, New York. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)
2016
10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, USA
Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell pose backstage at The New York Times DealBook Conference at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The New York Times )
2016
New York City, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente Inc., speaks during the New York Times DealBook conference in New York, U.S., on Thursday, November 10, 2016. The event brings together CEOs, leading figures in finance, and experts from diverse industries to assess the challenges and opportunities that will define the deal world of tomorrow. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2017
1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Bernard Tyson attends the 4th Annual California Fire Foundation Gala at Avalon Hollywood on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (March 21, 2017 - Source: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images North America)
2017
1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Bernard Tyson attends the 4th Annual California Fire Foundation Gala at Avalon Hollywood on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (March 21, 2017 - Source: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images North America)
2017
1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Bernard Tyson attends the 4th Annual California Fire Foundation Gala at Avalon Hollywood on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (March 21, 2017 - Source: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images North America)
2017
1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
Bernard Tyson attends the 4th Annual California Fire Foundation Gala at Avalon Hollywood on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (March 21, 2017 - Source: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images North America)
2017
New York, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer, speaks during the CEO Initiative event in New York, U.S., on Monday, September 25, 2017. The CEO Initiative brings together the CEOs of some of the worlds most enlightened companies to exchange best practices and leadership techniques, develop actionable solutions, and track tangible progress. Photographer: Misha Friedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2017
New York City, United States
Bernard J. Tyson speaks at the 2017 TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
2017
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente Inc., speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Monday, May 1, 2017. The conference is a unique setting that convenes individuals with the capital, power and influence to move the world forward meet face-to-face with those whose expertise and creativity are reinventing industry, philanthropy and media. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson speaks during the 29th annual Conference of the Professional Businesswomen of California (PBWC) on April 24, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The PBWC is a day of keynote speakers and seminars by top female leaders and panels of industry experts. (April 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America)
2018
Moffett Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94035, USA
Bernard Tyson (L) and Denise Bradley-Tyson attend the 2019 Breakthrough Prize at NASA Ames Research Center on November 4, 2018 in Mountain View, California. (Nov. 3, 2018 - Source: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images North America)
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson speaks during the 29th annual Conference of the Professional Businesswomen of California (PBWC) on April 24, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The PBWC is a day of keynote speakers and seminars by top female leaders and panels of industry experts. (April 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America)
2018
Los Angeles, California, United States
CEO of Kaiser Permanete Bernard J. Tyson speaks at The NBWA presents the first annual Women's Empowerment Summit Luncheon on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
2018
San Francisco, California, United States
Bernard Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente, speaks during the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, September 13, 2018. The event brings together industry and political leaders working on improving the conditions and concerns facing climate in the world today. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bernard J. Tyson
Vallejo, California, United States
After graduating from Vallejo High School in 1977.
San Francisco, California, United States
Tyson enrolled at Golden Gate University. While still in college, Tyson worked as an administrative analyst for Vallejo General Hospital. He earned his B.S. degree in health service management in 1982, and went on to receive his M.B.A. degree from Golden Gate University in 1984.
Bernard J. Tyson
Bernard J. Tyson was born on January 20, 1959, in Vallejo, California to Billie Tyson, a homemaker, and Moses Tyson, a minister.
After graduating from Vallejo High School in 1977, Tyson enrolled at Golden Gate University. While still in college, Tyson worked as an administrative analyst for Vallejo General Hospital. He earned his B.S. degree in health service management in 1982, and went on to receive his M.B.A. degree from Golden Gate University in 1984.
In 1984, Tyson accepted a six-month internship at Kaiser Permanente and was then hired full-time in an administrative position. Tyson remained at Kaiser Permanente and in 1992, he was named chief executive officer of the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. In 1999, he was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer for regions outside of California and for Kaiser’s brand strategy. In 2004, the organization launched its “Thrive” advertising campaign under Tyson’s leadership. In 2006, Tyson was promoted to senior vice president for Health Plan and Hospital Operations, during which time Kaiser opened four new hospitals. In 2010, he was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente. As president, he was vocal in his support of the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and faced significant hurdles. In 2013, he became the company’s first African American chairman and chief executive officer.
Under Tyson’s leadership, Kaiser Permanente continues to drive the need for affordable, accessible, high-quality health care and improving the health of its members and the 67 million residents in its communities. The organization is delivering on its “Thrive” promise by bringing an industry-leading 21st-century approach to health care and coverage that is helping members achieve their aspirations of total health — physical health as well as mental health and wellness. Kaiser Permanente’s 216,000 employees and 22,000 Permanente Medical Group physicians provide personalized, coordinated and technologically advanced care that consistently delivers some of the best clinical outcomes in the nation, while also leading the country in prevention, patient safety and quality.
His career at Kaiser Permanente has spanned more than 34 years, and he successfully has managed all major aspects of the organization during this time, serving in roles from hospital administrator to division president to president and chief operating officer of the Oakland, California-based national health care organization.
Tyson served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Health Governors Community. He also served on the boards of the American Heart Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and the International Federation of Health Plans. He was an American Heart Association CEO Roundtable Member and past chairman of the Executive Leadership Council.
Every morning he prays.
Kaiser Permanente, by far the largest integrated delivery network in the U.S., has much at stake if the Affordable Care Act is unraveled under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Kaiser CEO Bernard Tyson has been an outspoken advocate for giving all Americans access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. He also was one of many top healthcare leaders who supported Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.
He said: "I supported Clinton and that's a choice I made at a personal level, and others supported Trump. As a country we have a voting system that allows each person eligible to vote to cast a vote. I support this country and the structure.
The country has decided that Trump will be the next president and I support that. My obligation is to make this country better. My obligation is not to sit on the sidelines and say the person I supported did not win, I'm not going to play ball at a personal level. I support what our country stands for."
Tyson believes Kaiser Permanente’s approach to delivering quality and affordability through prevention, innovation, and integrated care can serve as the model for the future of health care in America. Central to his vision is that Kaiser Permanente be recognized both as a leader in preventive care, and as a center of excellence in treating serious health conditions.
He has been a strong advocate for the elimination of health care disparities, with advancements being realized using data available from members’ electronic medical records. All of this is delivered within the context of Kaiser Permanente’s mission that drives Tyson’s thought leadership and passion: to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of its members and the 67 million residents in its communities.
He is a member of the American Heart Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the International Federation of Health Plans, the The Executive Leadership Council and the World Economic Forum’s Health Governors Community.
Bernard Tyson wakes up between 5 and 6 a.m. First thing he does in the morning - prays, checks email on hisphone, and exercises while watching the news. Lunch routine - soup or salad. He goes to bed between 10 and 11:30.
Quotes from others about the person
"Bernard Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, sees technology as an augmentation to current healing tools - but not a replacement for human kindness, an integral part of healthcare." -Adam Lashinsky
Bernard Tyson married Denise Bradley Tyson.