Ryan Gates is the Executive Dean and Senior Vice President of Western Governors University’s Leavitt School of Health, where he leads strategy, academic innovation, and workforce development across nursing and health programs nationwide. In this role, Dr. Gates is focused on strengthening the healthcare education pipeline, expanding access to high-quality training, and ensuring graduates are prepared to meet the real-world demands of patients, providers, and communities.

Education has long been central to Dr. Gates’ life and leadership. He comes from a multigenerational family of educators: his grandfather served as a university president, his father spent more than four decades as a high school teacher, coach, and principal, and his mother worked as a high school guidance counselor. Following that lineage, Dr. Gates began his own career as a high school science teacher and wrestling coach, experiences that shaped his belief in education as a catalyst for opportunity and social mobility.

After pursuing graduate training in pharmacy, Dr. Gates spent more than two decades in healthcare, beginning as a clinical pharmacist and residency program director before rising through senior leadership roles across academic medical centers, health systems, medical groups, and managed care organizations. His career has spanned frontline clinical practice, executive administration, population health, and value-based care, with a consistent focus on improving quality, advancing health equity, and building sustainable systems, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Prior to joining WGU, Dr. Gates served in executive leadership roles at one of California’s largest health care districts, overseeing complex operations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and interdisciplinary teams of clinicians and staff. He has also founded and led healthcare consulting and nonprofit organizations, including the creation of a federally qualified health center, and continues to serve on boards supporting integrated delivery networks and risk-based health plans.

At WGU, Dr. Gates sees his work as a return to his educational roots. He brings a practitioner’s perspective to health education, championing competency-based learning, data-informed decision-making, and leadership development. His goal is to prepare healthcare professionals who not only deliver clinical excellence, but also possess the empathy, resilience, and leadership skills required to strengthen the healthcare system for the long term.