The fellowship program is directed by Mr. John J. Lynch, III and Ms. Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, RN, FACHE, who offer 50+ combined years of health care administration experience.
John J. Lynch, III, president and CEO, Main Line Health
Mr. Lynch is a native of Washington, D.C. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, and his master of health administration from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and has served on the board of a wide variety of professional associations including the Texas Hospital Association and the Greater Houston Hospital Counsel.
Mr. Lynch also brings a strong background in community service, having chaired the health care campaign of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, served on a committee of the Greater Houston Partnership, and been a board member and chairman of both The Hospice at the Texas Medical Center and the Houston Hospice and Palliative Care System.
Mr. Lynch and his family reside in Wayne, Pa.
"The Fellowship Program at Main Line Health provides a unique experience to emerging health care leaders. Coming from a fellowship program myself, I take the program seriously, and I am fully dedicated to providing the fellows with experiences that will not only enhance their skills but to develop new ones to fully arm them for the future challenges of health care." –John J. Lynch
Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, RN, FACHE
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer & Chief Nursing Officer
Barbara Wadsworth, executive vice president/chief operating officer and chief nursing officer of Main Line Health, brings over 30 years of healthcare and nursing experience to the system. Barbara joined the Main Line Health team in 2012 as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer and assumed her current role in October 2020. In her role, Barbara has leadership and operational oversight for hospital and ambulatory operations across Main Line Health, collaborating with hospital and medical staff leadership to ensure a high standard of STEEEP care in all settings, promote clinician and patient satisfaction and provide oversight for cost-effective care delivery and integrated clinical programs.
Since Barbara arrived at Main Line Health in 2012, she has been a champion of Patient Safety, Quality, Equity and Affordability. Among Barbara’s many accomplishments during her tenure is her leadership during our Performance Excellence 2020 journey; guiding our nursing staff through Epic implementation; achieving successive Systemwide Magnet designations; and introducing a number of initiatives and incentives to improve patient experience.
Under her dynamic leadership, Main Line Health history was made when the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced the achievement of becoming one of only 22 health systems in the nation to achieve Magnet® status. Main Line Health received system redesignation in 2019.
In addition to the services outlined above, Barbara is responsible for the leadership of all areas of patient care services throughout the system. A significant accomplishment includes Main Line Health being chosen as one of three healthcare organizations in the entire tri-state region to receive the Excellence Award from The Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Performance Excellence (MAAPE), which demonstrated Main Line Health’s ability to align with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework. Additionally, Barbara is responsible for other systemwide projects focused on patient satisfaction, embedding the culture of safety at Main Line Health, palliative care, and advancing care coordination and population health to meet the needs of our community members well into the future. Barbara is also responsible for the inaugural Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Main Line Health.
While ensuring Main Line Health’s nursing team is offering superior care to patients, Barbara has also been an advocate for exemplary nursing practice, professional development and continuing education, encouraging the pursuit of advanced degrees and specialty certifications among the Main Line Health nursing team. In 2014, Barbara earned her own Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Systems Leadership from Vanderbilt University. She also holds certification as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Nurse Executive, Advanced; a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She is a 2009 Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow, was inducted as a Fellow into the National Academies of Practice in March of 2017 and recently completed the national Baldrige Executive Fellowship. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Barbara serves on several boards, including serving as President of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, and member of the Immaculata University MSN Advisory Board. She serves as the current Vice Chair of the Gift of Life Board of Governor’s after previously serving six years on the Medical Advisory & Policy Board. She serves as Chair of the PHL Convention & Visitors Center Board Nursing Leadership Committee and is serving on the Montgomery County Board of Health for a second term. Barbara was appointed to the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania Board in 2017 and was appointed by HAP to become the nurse leader representative on the Pennsylvania Action Coalition. Barbara also served on the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Board in 2014 and their Executive Leadership Team in 2015.
Barbara’s dedication to nursing leadership, innovation, research and education, as well as her commitment to our employees and our patients is truly represented in her accomplishments at Main Line Health. Her determination and vision further enhance Main Line Health’s ability to provide superior care to the region.