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Neil Rao

Senior PartnerSeattle

Advises health systems and healthcare-services entities on strategy and top-line performance topics, as well as private-equity and venture-capital groups investing in healthcare

Neil serves health systems and healthcare-services entities on strategy and top-line performance topics, and advises private-equity and venture-capital groups investing in healthcare. He leads McKinsey’s efforts in the healthcare services sector, along with our knowledge efforts for healthcare providers, which includes work through the Center for US Healthcare Reform.

Examples of his recent client work include the following:

  • leading an enterprise-performance transformation for a large not-for-profit health system, including accelerating its revenue diversification agenda and building a new services and technology-oriented subsidiary
  • implementing an operations-oriented growth agenda for a large health system with a focus on building its physician engagement and care-coordination capabilities
  • advising the leadership of an academic medical center through the renegotiation of its academic affiliation agreement and contracts with adult and pediatric-faculty physician practices

Since joining McKinsey in 2007, Neil has served clients in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Outside McKinsey, Neil has also worked with Milbank, at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, and with the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health.

Neil enjoys long-distance running and has completed over 15 marathons and won two. He’s also an avid supporter of the Michigan Wolverines.

Published work

2024 healthcare services outlook: Challenges and opportunities,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

US health systems: Diversify to thrive,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

Overcoming the cost of healthcare transformation through partnerships,” McKinsey & Company, August 2022

Unlocking value in large-deal healthcare M&A: How to achieve transformation during integration,” McKinsey & Company, September 2021

Healthcare’s evolving chessboard: M&A capabilities to accelerate long-term strategy,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

Revisiting the access imperative,” McKinsey & Company, May 2018

Past experience

Milbank
Summer associate

Lancet Commission on Investing in Health
Research assistant

O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
Fellow

Education

Harvard Law School
JD

University of Michigan
MPH, health policy and health care management
BA, English literature