Dr. Joseph Amaral is a proven strategic leader with significant and enduring achievements in revitalizing a major regional healthcare institution, exploring and developing new medical technologies, educating international communities in new surgical procedures, and creating environments where people realize their potential and succeed. Dr. Amaral was President and CEO of Rhode Island Hospital (RIH) and its pediatric division Hasbro Children’s Hospital from 2000 to 20007 and also served as its COO for the first 3 1/2 years. This is the state’s largest private employer, Brown University’s largest teaching affiliate, and the third largest hospital in New England. During this period, he led a turnaround in operations from a $28 million loss to a $35 million profit while at the same time investing over $450 million in renovation projects, new technologies and new facilities.
Dr. Amaral is Professor of Surgery at Brown University School of Medicine, member of 25+ professional societies, author of 80+ papers and book chapters and has delivered 250+ national and international presentations. Prior to becoming RIH President and CEO, Dr. Amaral was Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Brown University School of Medicine, Chief of Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital, President of University Surgical Associates and Executive Chief of Surgery at Lifespan Affiliated Hospitals.
Dr. Amaral is internationally recognized as a pioneer in laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery. He introduced these approaches to Rhode Island and New England in 1990. He has performed approximately 3,000 laparoscopic procedures and trained hundreds of practicing surgeons in these techniques throughout New England, broadly across the U.S., and around the world. He has operated in 20 countries and on five continents.
In addition to his work in minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Amaral’s scholarly work includes federally funded research in gallbladder disease and the development of innovative surgical procedures and technologies in collaboration with major corporations. Specifically, he has identified opportunities for practical solutions to existing surgical problems. He has partnered closely with others to take these solutions through the product development and commercialization cycles leading to broad based commercial acceptance of these products.
Dr Amaral was instrumental in the success of Ultracision, a startup company, by developing with company CEO Tom Davison, Ph.D., the Harmonic Scalpel, the first and still leading ultrasonically activated cutting and coagulating surgical device. He has served as a consultant and advisory board member to multiple leading healthcare and biotech companies.
Dr. Amaral is the only child of Jose and Rosa Amaral, immigrants from Portugal, and recently received the Order of Merit from the President of Portugal, the highest civilian honor given by the country, for his efforts to help the Portuguese community. Born in Rhode Island, he graduated summa cum laude in 1977 from Providence College where he currently serves as a trustee. He obtained his MD degree from Brown Medical School in 1981 and completed his surgical residency training at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital in 1989 during which he received an American College of Surgeons Scholarship for surgical research. He lives in Cumberland with his wife, Linda, and their three children, Courtney, Ashley and Gregory.
Videos (1)
Joseph Amaral, MD is associated with the following videos.
