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Amy Richards is currently senior director, data applications & insights in the Center for Advanced Analytics & Informatics at Vizient. In this role she leads advanced analysis to provide insight into hospitals’ clinical, cost, and operational performance. She oversees a team of dedicated analysts embedded at member hospitals to increase engagement and utilization of Vizient analytical solutions. She is also responsible for leading enhanced analysis using Vizient analytical solutions in Vizient’s advisory consulting practice. 

Previously at Vizient, she was senior director of business analytics for the Mid-Atlantic region, leading all of the region’s benchmarking initiatives and associated networking opportunities. Richards also facilitated hospital collaborative networks including the Physician Integration Advisory Group, a regional network connecting executives in charge of physician strategies. She also provided market management support to members in western Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Vizient (at that time known as VHA Pennsylvania), Amy worked in a business analysis role with Vital Engineering, a program of UPMC Health System, and the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative. Before coming to Pittsburgh, she worked in research administration at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Richards received her MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business and her MHA from the Graduate School of Public Health, both at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Statistics. She is board certified in health care management and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has served in several leadership roles in the local ACHE chapter and as the ACHE Regent for Pennsylvania. Richards has also served as Vice President and President of the Health Policy Management Alumni Association at Pitt Public Health.

Richards describes her time at Pitt Public Health as follows, "Pitt Public Health provided a very solid foundation on which to grow my career. It provided a top notch education along with a connection to the industry through faculty with a wide network of contacts. I am also inspired by alumni who came before me who model dedication to public health through their career accomplishments and by giving back to the programs that helped them be successful. Pitt Public Health still influences my career by providing continuous opportunities to learn and network."

Her favorite part of her work: "I am fortunate to truly enjoy my work, as I have come to realize that not everyone can honestly say the same. Two things excite me. First, I look for stories in healthcare data. I get to identify variation in clinical, operational, and financial performance at hospitals and dig deep into their data to create actionable insights that drive change. Second, I manage and develop a broad staff. I get to be somewhat of a chameleon to harness their various and diverse talents, help them be successful, and give others around us an opportunity to see the greatness in each individual person."