The MHA announced the 2025 winner of its highest achievement award June 26 during the association’s Annual Membership Meeting. Receiving the award for his decades of healthcare leadership is Bob Riney, president and CEO, Henry Ford Health, Detroit.
Riney is honored for his decades of healthcare leadership, which spans more than 45 years of service at Henry Ford Health. Riney has been instrumental in the growth of Henry Ford Health and its role serving communities throughout Michigan and beyond during his tenure. Riney’s career with Henry Ford Health began in 1978 as a college student and has since evolved into many executive roles, including chief operating officer, chief administrative officer and chief human resources officer. Following his appointment as CEO in 2022, Henry Ford Health has executed several large projects.
Riney spearheaded a joint venture agreement with Ascension Michigan hospitals, uniting the two major health systems across southeast Michigan. This grew Henry Ford Health from five to 13 acute care hospitals; approximately 33,000 to 50,000 team members; and 250 to more than 550 sites of care, while expanding access to advanced clinical care and cutting-edge research for communities throughout Michigan and beyond.
Riney has also been key in the creation of Destination: Grand, which completely reimagines the Henry Ford Hospital campus in Detroit to improve the patient experience and drive medical innovation. It will include a new 20-story, 1.2-million-square-foot hospital facility with all private patient rooms, a new emergency department more than double the size of the existing one, 28 operating rooms and its own central energy hub, positioning it as one of the largest fully electric-capable hospitals in the country.
His involvement with the MHA spans 25 years, including working on various committees and issues that focus on the healthcare workforce, patient safety and board governance. Riney served on the MHA Board of Trustees for 14 years, including as chair during the 2016-17 MHA program year.
Riney is a graduate of Wayne State University and a lifelong Detroiter. He remains active on many community boards, including the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust, Detroit Zoological Society, M1 Rail Transit Authority, The Parade Company, Hudson-Webber Foundation, Caymich Insurance Company, Detroit Regional Chamber, Business Leaders for Michigan, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit Regional Partnership, The Detroit Economic Club and Motown Museum. In addition, Riney is the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair.