Dia Nichols

Dia Nichols serves as the President of Advocate Health Care, one of the largest private employers and the largest health system in Illinois, serving patients across 11 hospitals and more than 250 sites of care. Dia’s scope includes overseeing roughly 41,000 teammates and 7,000 physicians. He is responsible for the growth, development and strategic direction of the Illinois Division for Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the nation.

A seasoned executive and an inclusive, solutions-driven leader, Dia previously served as the President of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and the Central Chicagoland Area for Advocate Health Care. For 18 years, he also held various positions of increasing leadership responsibility with HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, including chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and market lead executive.

The recipient of numerous professional recognitions, Dia was selected as a 2025 Chicago Titan 100 and was named to the Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 list of Notable Black Leaders and 2022 list of Notable Executives of Color in Health Care, among other accolades. He is also on the board of World Business Chicago, Ravinia Outdoor Music Festival and Illinois Health and Hospital Association. Devoted to community service, Dia has also been involved with the Rotary International and the Executive Cabinet of the American Heart Association.

Dia earned a master’s degree in health administration from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from South Carolina State University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the National Association of Health Services Executives. Dia and his wife, Andrea, have two children and live in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.