Fort Worth – Blue Zones, the organization known for its longevity research and community‑health programs, named Brett McClung as its new chief executive officer and president. McClung brings more than twenty years of executive experience in health‑care delivery, including leadership roles at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, and as executive vice president and chief operating leader of Texas Health Resources.
While at Texas Health Resources, McClung served as the executive sponsor of the Blue Zones Project in Fort Worth, helping local neighborhoods adopt environment‑based strategies that make healthy choices easy. His work there laid the groundwork for the city’s recent declines in obesity and tobacco use, outcomes that align with the organization’s evidence‑based approach to improving public health.
Career highlights that prepare McClung for the role
Before joining Blue Zones, McClung led Baptist Health as president and CEO, overseeing one of the nation’s largest health systems and championing the implementation of the Blue Zones Project in Jacksonville. He also completed a fellowship at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute, where he studied how to shift health care from a downstream, disease‑treatment model to an upstream, prevention‑focused system.
McClung’s experience spans advisory work with venture‑backed health‑tech firms, including companies focused on artificial intelligence, ambulatory care, clinical trials, and digital health. He has also served as an American Marshall Fellow, studying comparative health‑system financing and delivery in other countries to identify lessons for improving population health in the United States.
What the transition means for the community
Blue Zones co‑founder Ben Leedle, who stepped down after nine years as CEO, praised McClung’s vision and commitment. “Having worked with Brett as the lead sponsor and champion on major Blue Zones Project implementations, I know he has the skills and experience to lead us to new heights,” Leedle said.
McClung echoed that sentiment, emphasizing his lifelong goal of narrowing the gap between current health outcomes and the health people are capable of achieving. “Blue Zones has demonstrated that when communities and organizations work together to make the healthy choice the easy choice, we can create meaningful and lasting change,” he said. “I am excited to help take that mission to an even greater scale.”
Founder Dan Buettner added that McClung’s deep understanding of community design and health‑system finance will help Blue Zones continue delivering both health improvements and financial returns for participating health organizations.
Continuity of service
Blue Zones assured partners and the communities it serves that ongoing projects and research will proceed without interruption. The organization’s core research, led by Buettner, remains focused on identifying the environmental factors that allow people in “blue zones” around the world to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
For local leaders and residents, the appointment signals a continued emphasis on evidence‑based, community‑wide health initiatives that align with the values of strong families and personal responsibility. By making healthy choices easier through changes to the built environment, Blue Zones aims to support the well‑being of individuals, families, and neighborhoods across Texas and beyond.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
