Edward A. Walker

Dr. Walker is currently Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Health Systems & Population Health at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in leadership development and coaching of physicians and other senior healthcare leaders, improving quality measures, and leading change in medical institutions. A seasoned physician executive and clinician, he brings together expertise in clinical systems improvement and a clinically-informed coaching style that has allowed him to assist physicians and senior executives in their journey of leadership self-improvement and professional growth. After completing a Masters Degree in Health Administration at the UW, Dr. Walker served as Chief Medical Officer for the UW Medical Center and as a core faculty member of the UW Master of Health Administration program. His principal community outreach continues as Senior Physician Advisor for the Washington State Medical Association’s Center for Leadership Development, where he has created evidence-based leadership development programs and governance education for senior healthcare executives and physicians. As a clinician, Dr. Walker spent 20 years as the psychiatric consultant for the UW Family Medicine Clinic and was Chief of Psychiatry at UW Med Center. His academic research career focus has been integration of mental health into primary and specialty care medical settings and the association of childhood maltreatment with medically unexplained physical symptoms in adulthood. Edward Walker MD, MHA is the founding Director of the University of Washington Healthcare Leadership Development Alliance (HLDA). He is the Cheryl M. Scott / Group Health Cooperative Endowed Professor of Health Administration at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is also a Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine, and holds adjunct appointments in the departments of OB/GYN and Family Medicine. From 2002 until 2008 he was Medical Director for the University of Washington Medical Center and Associate Dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Walker is an executive coach with over 20 years of supervisory and coaching experience in a variety of medical leadership settings. He specializes in developing physician leaders and coaching senior executives both within and outside healthcare, including Fortune 500 companies. Using a clinically-informed coaching style, Dr. Walker combines his executive and clinical experience in an approach to leadership performance improvement that maximizes self-awareness, positive psychology and transformational leadership behaviors. He is particularly interested in and effective with leaders who have personality characteristics that have repeatedly impaired their leadership effectiveness. He frequently coaches other coaches on how to deal with challenging senior leaders, and he accepts selected referrals from coaches who have reached a point of diminishing returns with their clients. . In addition to these local responsibilities, Dr. Walker is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Washington Physicians Health Program. He is a core faculty member for the American College of Physician Executives where he teaches courses on Medical Quality, Advanced Quality and Coaching. Dr. Edward A. Walker is a Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Health Systems and Population Health at the University of Washington. A distinguished physician-leader, educator, and executive coach, Dr. Walker brings a unique interdisciplinary approach to health system transformation, drawing on his clinical background in psychiatry, executive leadership in healthcare administration, and specialized training in music and philosophy. Dr. Walker holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Fordham University, an MM in Music from the Catholic University of America, an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Washington. He has built a career at the intersection of clinical care, health systems leadership, and behavioral science. His contributions have been transformative in integrating mental health services into primary and specialty care settings, enhancing healthcare leadership, and advancing quality improvement initiatives. As the founding Director of the University of Washington Healthcare Leadership Development Alliance (HLDA), Dr. Walker has designed and led programs that nurture high-impact physician and executive leadership. He served as the Cheryl M. Scott / Group Health Cooperative Endowed Professor of Health Administration, and was Medical Director of the UW Medical Center and Associate Dean of the UW School of Medicine from 2002 to 2008. These leadership roles have positioned him at the forefront of health systems change and innovation. Dr. Walker is highly respected for his executive coaching practice, where he applies clinically-informed strategies to support physician leaders and senior executives, both within healthcare and in corporate environments, including Fortune 500 companies. He specializes in performance coaching for high-potential leaders facing personality-related barriers, and is also sought after to mentor other coaches working with difficult clients. His academic research has focused on the integration of mental health services into broader medical settings, including the psychiatric implications of childhood trauma and its link to medically unexplained physical symptoms. He spent two decades serving as a psychiatric consultant at the UW Family Medicine Clinic and held the position of Chief of Psychiatry at UW Medical Center. Beyond academia, Dr. Walker remains active in shaping physician wellness and leadership development in the broader healthcare community. He serves as a Trustee for the Washington Physicians Health Program and is a Senior Physician Advisor for the Washington State Medical Association’s Center for Leadership Development. He is also a core faculty member with the American College of Physician Executives, where he teaches on topics such as medical quality and executive coaching. Dr. Walker’s work exemplifies a commitment to bridging the gaps between behavioral health, clinical leadership, and organizational development. His influence is deeply felt in healthcare education, coaching, and system-wide reform, where his strategic insight and humanistic perspective continue to inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders.