Insights from a Healthcare Executive's Lean Journey
Overview
Leading a lean organization-wide transformation is no easy task. Running a healthcare system is incredibly complex, and it takes steady and consistent leadership to effect true cultural transformation. Join Walt Dannenberg, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, as he shares his experience and lessons learned in leading a large healthcare organization. In this virtual seminar, Mr. Dannenberg will share his philosophy on leadership, his framework, and the approach he took in implementing lean practices. He will also share how he grew and developed lean leaders throughout his organization, his lessons learned, and a few course corrections he made to take his healthcare system to higher levels of performance. Following his presentation, Mr. Dannenberg will engage the audience for an interactive question and answer session.
Host Company
The VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHS) provides comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, and extended care to over 50,000–64,000 veterans across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Centered at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, the system includes six community clinics offering specialized services, mental health care, and extensive research programs. https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/
Presenter
As the Chief Executive Officer of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Mr. Dannenberg is responsible for administrative and clinical operations of the Tibor Ruben VA Medical Center, 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics and a Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC). The VA Long Beach Healthcare System provides a wide array of primary, specialty, and tertiary care services for Veterans in Long Beach and Orange County, California. Mr. Dannenberg oversees healthcare system operations that include more than 3,900 staff, over 400 operating beds, and an annual budget that exceeds $1 billion. He plays an integral role in leading overall organizational performance and fosters relationships with the many community partners, academic affiliates, and key VA stakeholders. Mr. Dannenberg is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and a certified VA Mentor. He is a proud graduate of the 2010 Health Care Leadership Development Program and a member of the 2016 Class for Leadership VA. He has served as Co-Chair of the Healthcare Leadership Development Program Advisory Board, Co-Chair of VHA’s High Reliability Organization Steering Committee, and Chair of the Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program. Mr. Dannenberg currently serves as the national ACHE Regent for Veterans Affairs.
Agenda
Thursday, April 22, 2026
8:55 a.m. Check in
9 a.m. Introduction
9:05 a.m. Presenter presentation
9:50 a.m. Q&A
10 a.m. Webinar concludes
*You can attend the sessions and translate to a different language using the closed caption feature in zoom.
Use the Zoom bottom toolbar - Select "closed caption", Select "caption language" from pop up menu, Select language from pop up list
PARTICIPANT BENEFITS
- Lean leaders are continually learning
- Building a lean system that aligns organizational operating systems with leadership behaviors, performance management and expectations and performance goals
- Learning from a leader’s lived experience
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Lean Leaders and Lean Practitioners who are interested in learning about organization-wide transformation
Safety Requirements
OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
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