Brown University Health names Samuel M. Mencoff Chair of the Board

Brown University Health announced the appointment of Samuel M. Mencoff as Chair of the Board of Directors, will be effective December 9, 2025. He currently serves as a member of the Brown University Health board. 

A Brown University alumnus and seasoned leader in business and philanthropy, Mencoff brings decades of experience in organizational leadership, governance, and health system oversight.

Mencoff, a 1978 graduate of Brown University and former Chancellor of the University (2016–2024) and a member of the Brown Corporation since 2003, is widely recognized for his transformative contributions to higher education, biomedical research, and community health initiatives. His new role at Brown University Health marks a continuation of his longstanding commitment to advancing health equity and excellence in care across Rhode Island and beyond.

“Sam’s leadership and strategic vision will be instrumental as Brown University Health enters a new era of growth, innovation, and service,” said John Fernandez, president and CEO of Brown University Health. “His deep ties to Brown and his experience at the intersection of business, healthcare, and education make him uniquely qualified to guide our system well into the future.”

Mencoff is co-founder and former Co-CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, a leading private equity firm based in Chicago, and he currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the firm. He also holds leadership positions on several national boards, including as a Commissioner of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery, Vice Chair of the Art Institute of Chicago, Director of the John Carter Brown Library, and is Lead Independent Director of Packaging Corporation of America. 

Mencoff succeeds Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr., who will be stepping down in December, from the role he has held since 2015.