I oversee financial operations across our health system, including our Medical Center, our School of Medicine and the Faculty Practice Group. My team handles all accounting functions, including accounts payable, patient accounting, payroll, and capital assets, planning and financing. We manage $1.2 billion in annual operating expenses.

What do you enjoy about your work?

Over the past several years, we've integrated the finances across our health system. That has only happened in a few places across the country, and we're proving that it works. I'm very proud of that. Every day is a challenge, but we continue to find new ways to make sure our money is spent wisely, and that the maximum amount of every dollar helps find more cures and provide better care for patients by supporting the best doctors and researchers in the country

William McGowan is chief financial officer for UC Davis Health System, responsible for overall financial operations of the health system.

As CFO, McGowan is responsible for a budget that includes $1.2 billion in operating revenue for UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Medical Center. During his tenure with UC Davis, the health system has achieved consistent gains in overall financial performance and a stable bottom line.

He oversees all financial functions including general accounts, accounts payable, patient accounting and payroll. He joined UC Davis in 1995 as assistant director of hospital and clinics, controller and was appointed CFO in February 2002.

Before joining UC Davis, McGowan was regional vice president for Mercy Healthcare Sacramento, a multi-hospital organization. Prior to that, he was chief financial officer at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Sacramento, chief financial officer of Mercy Hospital of Folsom and vice president for administration and finance at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. Previously, McGowan had served as chief financial officer for Monterey County's Natividad Medical Center.