Exciting News and Update from Catalysis

We are pleased to announce that Catalysis will be welcoming a new CEO.

For the past 17 years, Catalysis has been a guiding force in lean leadership. Among its foremost thought leaders has been Kim Barnas, who stepped down as CEO in November 2023 due to health reasons. We are pleased to share that Kim has successfully navigated her health challenges and is doing well. However, she has decided to spend time with family and friends and will not be returning to lead Catalysis.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Kim for her monumental contributions to the lean community. Her work has been instrumental in shaping lean healthcare leadership, from her seminal book Beyond Heroes to her co-authored work Becoming the Change. Through her coaching, she has impacted hundreds of executives worldwide. In recognition of her influence, Kim was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Academy Award by the Shingo Institute in 2023—an honor given to only a select few. Both of her books have also received the Shingo Research Prize.

Since 2023, John Toussaint, MD has served as the interim leader of Catalysis. As the organization’s founder in 2008 and Executive Chairman of the board since its inception, John has been a steady and visionary presence. Over the years, Catalysis has been privileged to have many distinguished leaders serve on its board. John will continue to serve on Catalysis’ board as Chairman.

Recently, the board voted unanimously to appoint Carlos Scholz as the new CEO. Carlos brings over 20 years of experience in lean leadership, beginning his career in manufacturing before moving into healthcare at the New York Health and Hospitals system. Most recently, he held a leadership role at the Permanente Medical Group in Sacramento. His deep expertise in organizational excellence and unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare make him the ideal leader for Catalysis’ future.

Carlos will officially assume his role as CEO on June 16. He is eager to lead Catalysis in its mission to support healthcare leaders worldwide in making healthcare the best it can be. Please join us in congratulating Carlos on this exciting new journey.

Over the next few weeks you will hear more about Carlos’ vision to enhance the value of Catalysis’ core offerings as well as new strategies to transform healthcare. This work will help advance initiatives to support safety net hospitals, value-based and population care, patient safety, diversity and equity. You can learn more about this exciting work through a series of town hall sessions hosted by both Carlos and John, which will be announced soon.

Carlos Scholz Bio

Carlos Scholz is an experienced lean practitioner and ongoing learner with expertise in both healthcare and manufacturing operations. 

Previously he worked as Director of Operations for Medicine Specialties at The Permanente Medical Group in Sacramento, CA, with responsibility for leading strategic plans to achieve sustainable and reliable results for seven value streams, as well as coordinating and ensuring ongoing patient readiness and compliance. Prior to this role, he was a Performance Improvement Director, with oversight over the successful deployment and maturity of “The North Valley Way” as the organization’s Lean Management System based on Shingo’s principles, which was highlighted in John Toussaint and Kim Barnas’ book Becoming the Change.

Prior to joining The Permanente Medical Group Carlos was Assistant Vice President of Organizational Innovation at NYC Health + Hospitals, and worked in the manufacturing industry at Hanesbrands, Inc. and D’Addario & Company, Inc. where he held progressive leadership roles, having the opportunity to launch system-wide lean transformations.

Carlos holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from IEST Anahuac, in Mexico and an Executive Masters in Healthcare Leadership degree from Brown University.

He was recognized as a Shingo Rising Star in May 2023 and as a Fellow of America’s Essential Hospitals in 2016.