Health tech pioneer Judy Faulkner to be honored at Commencement

Judy Faulkner, one of the most influential leaders in the health care and tech sectors, will receive an honorary degree during Winter 2026 Commencement. Tina Freese Decker, CEO of Corewell Health, will bestow the honor on Faulkner during the 3 p.m. ceremony on May 2 at Van Andel Arena.

The Board of Trustees approved honorary degrees for Faulkner and commencement speaker Steve Wozniak during its April 17 meeting. Faulkner will receive an honorary degree in health administration while Wozniak will receive an honorary degree in computing.

"We proudly recognize Judy Faulkner for her vision and determination," President Philomena V. Mantella said. "She has transformed the way health care systems use data to improve patient outcomes and has set a powerful example of innovation, leadership and service."Faulkner founded Epic Systems, a health care database and software company, in 1979 and has built the company into one of the nation's foremost health care data systems.

Epic, valued at more than $5.5 billion, plays a key role in how hospitals manage patient data as well as billing and clinical workflows. Its infrastructure can also support large-scale research and data-sharing initiatives across the health care industry.

Epic's clients include many of the country's top hospitals and health systems, including the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, CVS Health and Walgreens. With more than 9,500 employees, Epic is the largest tech-based firm in Wisconsin, and more than half of the U.S. population has its medical information in an Epic system.

In 2013, Forbes named her, "the most powerful woman in health care."

Faulkner signed the Giving Pledge in 2015, promising to donate 99% of her wealth. She also co-founded the Roots & Wings Foundation, which supports children and families through nonprofit funding.

She currently is a member of the National Academy of Medicine's Leadership Roundtable, The Scottsdale Institute, and of the Aspen Health Strategy Group.

With a bachelor's in mathematics from Dickinson College and a master's in computer science from the University of Wisconsin, Faulkner has also received honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin, Rush University, Temple University College of Public Health, Dickinson College and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.