Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin to retire
Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., will retire at the end of 2026, the organization announced Sept. 23. James I. Merlino, M.D., Joint Commission’s chief operating officer, will succeed Perlin as president and CEO effective Jan 1, 2027. Perlin is a former AHA Board Chair and received the association’s Distinguished Service Award during the 2026 AHA Annual Membership Meeting in April.
“Jon has been a tireless champion for quality, safety and continuous improvement across healthcare,” said AHA President and CEO Steve Walsh. “Those of us who have had the privilege of working with Jon know him as a thoughtful leader, trusted partner and passionate advocate for better patient care. On behalf of America’s hospitals and health systems, I congratulate him on a remarkable career and thank him for his leadership and service to patients and caregivers nationwide."
Under Perlin’s leadership, the Joint Commission shifted its accreditation efforts from gap identification to best‑practice enablement and evolved the organization’s relationship with healthcare organizations. Prior to Joint Commission, he served in multiple leadership roles, including president of clinical operations and chief medical officer for HCA Healthcare, and under secretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Widely recognized as one of the world’s experts on patient safety and quality, Jon has had a profound influence on the healthcare field during his long and distinguished career, driving improvements in care and advancing health in communities,” said Rick Pollack, president and CEO emeritus of the AHA. “Serving in leadership positions in a variety of roles, from the Department of Veterans Affairs to academia to most recently at Joint Commission, Jon has always worked collaboratively with providers, policymakers and others to raise the bar when it comes to delivering the best care possible to all our patients. We thank him for his numerous contributions to the field and wish him the best going forward.”