With more than 45 years of experience promoting organizational growth, operational excellence, and clinical innovation in top healthcare organizations in the US and the Middle East, Peter Makowski is a well-respected healthcare executive, strategic leader, and transformation specialist. Well-known for his capacity to foster positive relationships with physicians, improve financial performance, and oversee significant hospital transformations, he has consistently produced outstanding outcomes in facility development, mergers, patient care, and organizational culture.

Peter has extensive experience in developing and sustaining an organization & culture, leading to high staff engagement scores, low turnover rates, and high morale. He has successfully turned around two low-performing hospitals suffering from poor financial performance, low quality outcomes, poor employee morale, high staff turnover, and poor brand recognition in their respective communities. Additionally, he co-developed a middle management leadership program to strengthen organizational leadership at all levels.

As the most recent CEO of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman, Peter oversaw the hospital's growth plans, operational enhancements, and strategic transformation while guaranteeing both clinical quality and long-term financial viability. During his last two years at SKMCA, the organization achieved the highest staff engagement scores in the system and significantly reduced staff turnover. He also led improvements in regulatory compliance, resource optimization, and patient-centered care.

Throughout his career, Peter has held multiple executive leadership roles, each contributing to advancements in healthcare service delivery and operational efficiency. Before joining SKMCA, he served as CEO of American Hospital Dubai, where he oversaw the expansion and refurbishment of a 385-bed tertiary medical facility, strengthening its reputation as one of the region’s leading healthcare providers. Prior to that, he worked at NMC Royal Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he successfully enhanced physician collaborations across multiple institutions, increased patient satisfaction, and optimized operations.

During his tenure as President & CEO of St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver—a Level 1 Trauma Hospital—he oversaw the design and construction of a $500 million medical campus that included a 48-bed joint venture orthopedic hospital and a 222-bed tertiary hospital. St. Anthony Hospital also implemented the first civilian air ambulance system in the U.S., further establishing its leadership in trauma care. His experience includes leading large-scale hospital development projects, forging strategic alignments, and contributing to sustainable, value-based healthcare models.

Peter began his executive healthcare leadership career in positions such as President & CEO of Mercy Medical Center Sioux City and Executive VP & COO of Mercy Medical Center Des Moines. In these roles, he was instrumental in growing market share, implementing hospital-wide digital transformation strategies, and earning numerous patient safety and clinical excellence awards.

As a visionary leader in the healthcare industry, Peter specializes in financial performance improvement, physician engagement, facility expansion, strategic planning, and cultural transformation. His ability to cultivate cooperative alliances and drive positive organizational change has made him a trusted leader in the international healthcare sector.

As of January 2025, Peter is retired but continues to contribute to the healthcare industry as an expert with KayanWeb Consultancy - L.L.C., where he shares his knowledge of strategic transformation, hospital operations, and leadership development.

Our Experts

Dr. Mouhamad Al Zouhbi

Anna Dominique Elicana

Peter Makowski

Suhaib Matarneh

Dr. Salem Makhashen

Irina Kraycheva

Kiran Kumar Karri