An Interview With The Most Powerful Woman In Health Care

Zina Moukheiber | Forbes | May 15, 2013

Judy Faulkner might not be a household name yet, but in the health care industry, she’s simply known as Judy. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Epic Systems, a privately-held $1.5 billion (2012 revenue) company that sells electronic health records—a position that makes her one of the few self-made women on the Forbes billionaires list. Her customers are top medical centers, such as Cleveland Clinic, Geisinger Health System, and Johns Hopkins. She wields enormous influence. Almost half of the U.S. population will have its medical information stored in Epic digital records when hospitals finish installing them.

Faulkner, rarely, if ever, grants interviews. A year ago when I profiled her, she refused to speak. Because Epic shuns publicity and press releases, it is perceived as aloof; and criticism leveled at Epic regarding its business strategy is rarely challenged by the company. In a phone interview from Epic’s seat in Verona, Wisconsin, Faulkner acknowledged that.