Bill Fileti

Surrounded by his family, William James Michael Fileti, the visionary President and CEO of IHA, died peacefully on April 22, 2017. He was 67. Bill ushered in the era of cultural and physical transformations in community health care delivery. He was a champion of value centric decision-making and quality outcomes at all points of engagement.

Making the world a better place, especially in his beloved community, was an ever consuming life-long passion. A quiet competitor, he routinely exceeded expectations in work pursuits, community efforts and personal goals. And yes, he loved metrics on all fronts such that he could indeed perform the diligent short and long-term analytics to measure success or identify necessary course corrections.

Born on November 4, 1949 Bill was the eldest of Robert R. Fileti and Christine (Morrissey) Filet’s six children. He was raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Educated at Canisius College and Rutgers University, he earned a Masters in Business Administration with certifications in health care management from Harvard University. He found employment with the College of Medicine and Dentistry (formerly United Hospitals of Newark) and served as the youngest Vice-President at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey prior to recruitment in 1979 by the Catherine McAuley Health System (CMHS) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

As Vice-President at CMHS, Bill lead talented teams to develop ambulatory health care systems, durable medical and home care companies, and provided leadership for building the Reichert Health building. With his ever-present awareness of the “big picture”, Bill engaged in mergers and acquisitions for CMHS. He was instrumental in the formation of the Huron Valley Ambulance, Inc. avoiding a near county-wide collapse of this critical service. Bill also served as CEO of a joint venture mobile imaging company, CEO of a nine-hospital aeromedical consortium and as Board Chairman of a retail pharmacy start-up. Bill continued his medical management professional contributions with Emergency Physicians Medical Group as Executive Director from 1993 -1998, and also served, with SecureCare for numerous years prior to working with Co-Founders to develop his beloved IHA (Integrated Health Associates).

Founded in 1994 with a few independent private-practice groups from Washtenaw County, IHA has grown under Bill’s watchful eyes, to be one of the best not-for-profit multi-specialty groups in Southeast Michigan. Unifying visions, creating collaborative models and contributing to ardent discussions focused on actions for real change to improve care mattered immensely to Bill. So did the colleagues, friends and IHA family members he worked along side. He had an extraordinary gift for connecting with everyone. No matter how busy he was, Bill always embodied and lived according to principles that respected all individuals and groups which whom he engaged along his path. With a work ethic that never quit, Bill toiled with integrity, humility and focus. Those who knew him well, know he was prepared and had “the list”.

Bill espoused the principle of giving back. A member of the CEO Council of the American Medical Group Association, his volunteer roles as a community leader included Board roles with Key Bank, SPARK, and the United Way. His most recent philanthropic venture yielded record-breaking results for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Behavioral Health.

A talented athlete, Bill had a passion for basketball, tennis, fishing and later golf. He was an Arbor City Tennis Champion multiple times and will miss his court and range times here in Ann Arbor with friends and family. Bill never shied away from trying new endeavors at the bequest of family members. He skied, danced, zip lined and engage in many culinary adventures both nationally and internationally.

Bill was a loving, loyal and devoted son, husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. Undeniably greatest achievement was the result of 41 years of marriage to Cecilia Pozo yielding his two best works – his sons. Bill’s spark in his eyes came from family. He is survived by his wife (Cecilia), his children Eric and Owen and wife (Kristina), sister-in law (Wilma Binz and family), mother-in-law (Yolanda Pozo and family), his siblings and respective families: Christine Aderhold, Tom Fileti, Marybeth Luptowski, Alison Milus, 16 nephews and nieces, and his pride and joy, granddaughter Lana Elizabeth Fileti.

On Thursday, May 4th at 8pm, a Tribute Candle Light Vigil will be held on the Dominos Farm’s Campus to honor Bill’s contributions to the community for the past 38 years. Services will take place at noon on May 5th at St. Francis of Assisi Church with a Celebration of Life event to follow at the Jack Roth Stadium Club.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to United Way of Washtenaw County’s launch of the Futures Fund.