114th Commencement Exercises to Feature Keynote Address by Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks

“We are honored to welcome Jeff Flaks as our Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2026,” said Head of School Bob Izzo. “Jeff is one of the most respected healthcare leaders in the country, whose vision and leadership have transformed care delivery throughout Connecticut and beyond. His unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, patient safety, education, and workforce development has made a profound impact on the future of healthcare. I know our graduates will be inspired by his example of purpose-driven leadership and service.”

President Flaks will address the 100 seniors in the Class of 2026, which has the distinction of being the largest graduating class in the school’s history.

“It is a tremendous honor to join Hamden Hall in celebrating the Class of 2026 at this important milestone,” said President Flaks. “This generation is entering a world defined by extraordinary change and opportunity. I hope to encourage graduates to lead with courage, compassion, curiosity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others and in the communities they will serve.”

Since becoming President and CEO of Hartford HealthCare in 2019, President Flaks has led one of the nation’s most innovative integrated healthcare systems through a period of transformation with a bold ambition to be the nation’s most consumer-centric health system. Having joined the organization in 2004, he advanced through multiple senior leadership roles before assuming the helm of the system, which today serves 28,000 people each day across Connecticut and beyond, with the state’s largest non-government workforce of more than 48,000 colleagues.

Under his leadership, Hartford HealthCare has emerged as a national model for healthcare innovation, quality and patient safety. President Flaks has championed strategic partnerships with organizations including Google, Amazon, and MIT, Abridge, Aidoc, K Health and others to accelerate advancements in digital health, artificial intelligence, precision medicine and consumer access. His leadership helped earn Hartford HealthCare recognition on Fortune’s list of Most Innovative Companies, while also positioning the organization at the forefront of AI-enabled healthcare transformation through the launch of its Center for AI Innovation in Healthcare.

President Flaks is also widely recognized for his leadership in advancing healthcare quality, safety, affordability and access both within Connecticut and nationally. Throughout his tenure, Hartford HealthCare has expanded critical services, strengthened community-based care, and advanced systemwide initiatives focused on improving patient outcomes and elevating standards of clinical excellence. He has been a leading voice on the future of healthcare delivery, workforce development and public-private collaboration in medicine.

A passionate advocate for education and talent development, President Flaks has established academic and workforce partnerships with Quinnipiac University UConn, and Connecticut’s state college system, creating expanded scholarship, mentorship and career pipeline opportunities for future healthcare professionals.

President Flaks is the recipient of Leapfrog’s Prestigious 2025 Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO, recognizing a leader in healthcare advancing both quality and affordability. He has also been honored by Press Ganey as its National Innovator of the Year in 2026, recognizing significant contributions to the field of healthcare innovation that improve patient care, safety and quality.  He was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of Great CEOs in Healthcare for 2026.

 

A Connecticut native, President Flaks earned a master’s degree in health services administration from The George Washington University, where he serves as secretary of the university’s Board of Trustees. He also holds honorary doctorates from Trinity College, Eastern Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University.

As the school’s 114th Commencement speaker, President Flaks joins an unparalleled roster of distinguished keynote speakers who have addressed Hamden Hall’s graduating classes throughout the years.