The PRIME Center of Detroit Mercy hosts a collection of Speaker Series. On Mar. 12, Mike Kaufmann, former chief executive officer of Cardinal Health will be joining the PRIME Center to discuss “Perspectives on Leadership.” His expertise in developing and executing the company’s strategy makes him the perfect candidate for perspectives on leadership.
The PRIME Center allows Detroit Mercy business students to explore a diverse range of topics. They are introduced to leading business executives and thinkers. Through the PRIME Center, students are able to practice their skills in managerial situations, while working on ethics.
Evan Peterson, director of the PRIME Center, said, “The goal of the PRIME Center is to represent people in the field to supplement what students are learning in the classroom.”
Cardinal Health is a Fortune 500 healthcare company that sells medical and laboratory products and also anesthetic supplies. He has been a part of the Cardinal Health community for about 30 years. He has experience in a wide range of skills, such as sourcing and finance.
Cardinal Health has been voted as one of the Best Companies for Multicultural Women by Seramount in 2023. It also received received recognition for the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. Not only has this company been awarded multiple awards, but they also distribute 1⁄3 of all medical supplies in the U.S. to hospitals and retail pharmacies. Cardinal Health is also the provider for the nation’s largest nuclear pharmacy network.
Kaufmann joined Cardinal Health as the controller of the company. He has been in multiple senior operational, sales and financial roles. Before joining the Cardinal Health team, Kaufmann was the group president for Healthcare Supply Chains Services in the medical segment.
He provided laboratory, medical and surgery equipment to hospital centers, diagnostic labs and surgery centers. Besides these roles that Kaufmann has held, he has also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Healthcare Supply Chains Services and Medical Assessment.
Along with all of these roles, Kaufmann is a member of the executive board of Healthcare Distribution Management Association. Not only has Kaufmann performed well in these roles, but he also formed the Red Oak sourcing and created FUSE.
FUSE is Cardinal Health’s technology innovation center. The collaboration of FUSE and Cardinal Health has opened the door to improve patient outcomes and create tools that work effectively for hospitals and pharmacies. In addition to the formation of Red Oak Sourcing, he also created a joint venture with CVS Health.
Kaufmann is an advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Peterson said, “Kaufmann’s presentation focuses on DEI and how it affects the industry and discusses management ethics.”
He is the co-sponsor of the Cardinal Health Diversity and Inclusion Council and serves on the board of directors for diversity and inclusion efforts.
The Cardinal Health Diversity and Inclusion Council serves to progress diversity and inclusion efforts. Specifically, the Council focuses on efforts that acknowledge perspectives and encourage change through listening and action.
Not only is Kaufmann an advocate for diversity and inclusion, but he also formed the African American and Black Racial Equity cabinet that contains advisors on racial equality. The advisors for the African American and Black Racial Equality focus specifically on racial equity issues. Kaufmann maintains a role in the Cardinal Health Women’s Initiative as well. This is a resource group that makes Cardinal Health a suitable environment to work in.
Peterson said, “Kaufmann will be talking about his advancements in his career and what his job looks like at the international level.”
