John W. Colloton (57MA), former chief executive for University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and VP for statewide health services, died Friday, Nov. 14, in Iowa City. He was 94 years old. Over a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, Colloton led the transformation of the patient care enterprise, which helped establish Iowa as one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. 

Colloton earned a master’s degree in hospital and health administration from the UI in 1957, then joined the administrative staff of the UI Hospitals and Clinics. In 1971, he became UIHC director, a position he held until 1993.

During his tenure, Colloton oversaw dramatic improvement and expansion of the hospital complex, developments that positioned the UIHC as one of the nation’s premier teaching hospitals and delivered advanced medical services to all Iowans. He also became a champion for medical education and research, only the second nonphysician to chair the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Colloton was a generous supporter of the UI and its College of Public Health, which today administers education programs in health management and policy. He recognized the need to address complex public health challenges through multidisciplinary collaborations and to translate research findings into health policy and practice. 

“Mr. Colloton’s distinguished leadership in academic medicine and health care administration made a lasting impact on the University of Iowa and the College of Public Health,” says Edith Parker, dean of the College of Public Health. “The college is deeply grateful for his generous support and dedication to educating the next generation of health care leaders, health services researchers, and public health practitioners.”

In 1987, Colloton was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. His other honors include induction into the National Health Care Hall of Fame, the American Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans. The John W. Colloton Pavilion at UIHC is named in his honor. The John W. Colloton Chair in Health Management and Policy was established in the College of Public Health to honor the numerous contributions Colloton made throughout his career as one of the nation’s leading health care executives.

“Mr. Colloton was a visionary and national leader in health care administration,” says George Wehby, John W. Colloton Chair and head of the Department of Health Management and Policy in the College of Public Health. “His leadership and work have had major impacts on moving the field forward.  His dedication, generosity, and support for our university, college, and department were also abundant.” 

In 2013, at the University of Iowa’s Graduate College commencement ceremony, Colloton received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, the inaugural recipient from the UI College of Public Health. The award recognized his distinguished career, leadership in medicine and public health, and commitment to the university and its work.

Read Mr. Colloton’s obituary