Georgia Trend, at its 100 Most Influential luncheon Jan. 29 at the Georgia Aquarium, highlighted John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System, for his contributions in strengthening the leading trauma hospital in the state.
The Georgia Trend luncheon is one of the most important gatherings of the year, when top leaders in the state mingle with other key figures in the business and civic communities. (See photos below.)
Haupert graciously accepted the award on behalf of the 10,000 employees in the Grady Health System, a hospital that has been in existence since 1892. Grady has been serving the broad array of citizens for more than 130 years, and it is especially known for providing health care to the poor.
Haupert has been with Grady since 2011, just after the Atlanta philanthropic and business communities galvanized around the effort to save Grady. As recently as 2007, Grady Hospital was in a dire place, on the precipice of bankruptcy, which would have thrown all of metro Atlanta’s healthcare providers into a state of financial uncertainty.
Upon accepting the award, Haupert paid tribute to all the leaders who saved Grady Hospital, mentioning former Georgia-Pacific CEO, the late Pete Correll, by name. The Woodruff Foundation, Tom Bell, Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank and many other corporate leaders rallied behind the cause.
“I was so incredibly impressed that a community and a group of business leaders came together to save this safety-net hospital,” said Haupert, upon accepting the award. “That’s unique in the nation.”
Haupert went on to say that his job is to prove that Grady Hospital is worthy of the investment community leaders had made.
“It’s really been an amazing honor,” Haupert said of his 15 years at the helm of Grady Health. He then shared his commitment to continue to serve the hospital with “integrity, excellence, compassion and hope.”
Two new leaders were inducted into Georgia Trend’s Hall of Fame at the luncheon: Shan Cooper and Dan Amos, CEO of Columbus-based AFLAC, who wasn’t available to attend the luncheon.
Cooper is a well-known leader in Atlanta. She served as the Georgia president of Lockheed Martin and as executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress and she currently serves on numerous boards. Cooper happens to chair the Grady Health Foundation’s board. Cooper also received the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Blanchard Servant Leadership Award.
Upon introducing Cooper at the Georgia Trend luncheon, Georgia Chamber President Chris Clark joked that he would be taking up a collection to buy her a trophy case for all her awards.
Cooper thought she was only going to be eye candy for photos, saying she didn’t expect to have to say a few words. But she went on to thank everyone for all the opportunities she’s had as a leader in Georgia.
Lori Geary was the emcee of the luncheon, introducing the 100 Most Influential Georgians who were able to attend the event and pick up their certificate.
