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		<title>Maintenance script: Created comprehensive article on Judy Faulkner, Epic Systems founder and CEO</title>
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		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created comprehensive article on Judy Faulkner, Epic Systems founder and CEO&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox person&lt;br /&gt;
| name             = Judy Faulkner&lt;br /&gt;
| image            = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption          = &lt;br /&gt;
| birth_name       = Judith R. Faulkner&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1943|8|11}}&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_place      = [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]], U.S.&lt;br /&gt;
| nationality      = American&lt;br /&gt;
| education        = [[Moorestown Friends School]]&lt;br /&gt;
| alma_mater       = [[Dickinson College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])&lt;br /&gt;
| occupation       = {{hlist|Healthcare software executive|Entrepreneur|Philanthropist}}&lt;br /&gt;
| title            = CEO and Founder, Epic Systems&lt;br /&gt;
| years_active     = 1979–present&lt;br /&gt;
| known_for        = {{hlist|Founding [[Epic Systems]]|Electronic health records|Healthcare IT}}&lt;br /&gt;
| spouse           = Gordon Faulkner&lt;br /&gt;
| children         = 3&lt;br /&gt;
| net_worth        = US$7.8 billion (July 2024)&lt;br /&gt;
| awards           = {{hlist|[[Giving Pledge]] signatory (2015)|Forbes &amp;quot;Most Powerful Woman in Healthcare&amp;quot; (2013)}}&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Judith R. &amp;quot;Judy&amp;quot; Faulkner&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (born August 11, 1943) is an American billionaire businesswoman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who founded and serves as [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Epic Systems]], one of the world&amp;#039;s largest [[healthcare software]] companies and the dominant provider of [[electronic health record]] (EHR) systems in the United States.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;epic-overview&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Systems company overview |url=https://www.epic.com/about |website=Epic Systems |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Based in [[Verona, Wisconsin]], Epic maintains the medical records of more than 325 million patients—approximately half of the U.S. population—and serves more than 50% of hospital beds across the country, making it the largest EHR vendor by market share.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;market-share&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Systems market share |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ehrs/epic-market-share |website=Becker&amp;#039;s Hospital Review |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner founded Epic in 1979 under its original name, Human Services Computing, starting the company in a basement with just $70,000 in startup capital and two part-time assistants.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;founding&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Systems founding story |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/judy-faulkner |magazine=Forbes |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The company has remained privately held throughout its history, never accepting venture capital or private equity investment and never acquiring another company—a philosophy that Faulkner considers essential to maintaining focus on customer needs rather than investor returns. She has repeatedly stated that Epic will never go public.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;private&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner: Epic will never go public |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/epic-private |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2013, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Forbes]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; magazine named Faulkner &amp;quot;the most powerful woman in healthcare,&amp;quot; recognizing her influence over the U.S. healthcare system through Epic&amp;#039;s dominance of the EHR market.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;forbes-powerful&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Forbes names Faulkner most powerful woman in healthcare |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2013/most-powerful-women-healthcare |magazine=Forbes |date=2013 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; As of July 2024, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Forbes&amp;#039;&amp;#039; estimated her net worth at US$7.8 billion, making her one of the wealthiest self-made women in America and among the richest people in the healthcare industry.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;net-worth&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Judy Faulkner net worth |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/judy-faulkner |magazine=Forbes |date=July 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner signed the [[Giving Pledge]] in 2015, committing to donate 99% of her assets to philanthropy.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;giving-pledge&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Judy Faulkner Giving Pledge |url=https://givingpledge.org |website=Giving Pledge |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2019, she and her husband Gordon founded the Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations serving low-income children and families.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;roots-wings&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation |url=https://rootswings.org/ |website=Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Early life and education ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Family background ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Judith R. Faulkner was born on August 11, 1943, to Louis and Del Greenfield.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;birth&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Judy Faulkner biography |url=https://www.biography.com/judy-faulkner |website=Biography.com |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Her parents instilled in her an early interest in healthcare that would shape her career. Her father, Louis Greenfield, was a [[pharmacist]], giving young Judy exposure to the healthcare profession and the importance of accurate medical information in patient care. Her mother, Del Greenfield, served as the director of [[Physicians for Social Responsibility|Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility]], a nonprofit organization focused on healthcare advocacy and nuclear disarmament—exposing Judy to the intersection of medicine and social activism.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;parents&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner&amp;#039;s parents |url=https://www.madison.com/faulkner-profile |newspaper=The Capital Times |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner was raised in the Erlton neighborhood of [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]], a suburban community in the [[Philadelphia metropolitan area]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;childhood&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner childhood |url=https://www.philly.com/faulkner |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Growing up in this environment, she developed the work ethic and intellectual curiosity that would characterize her later career.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Education ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner attended [[Moorestown Friends School]], a private [[Quaker]] school in [[Moorestown, New Jersey]], graduating in 1961.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;high-school&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Moorestown Friends School notable alumni |url=https://www.mfriends.org |website=Moorestown Friends School |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Quaker educational tradition, with its emphasis on integrity, simplicity, community, and service, influenced her values and business philosophy.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She then enrolled at [[Dickinson College]], a small [[liberal arts college]] in [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], where she earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[mathematics]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;dickinson&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Dickinson College notable alumni |url=https://www.dickinson.edu/alumni |website=Dickinson College |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The mathematics training provided her with the analytical and logical thinking skills that would prove essential for her work in computer programming and software development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After completing her undergraduate degree, Faulkner pursued graduate studies at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], where she earned a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[computer science]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;uw-madison&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=UW-Madison computer science alumni |url=https://www.cs.wisc.edu |website=University of Wisconsin–Madison |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 1965, she began doctoral studies in computer science at UW-Madison, though she would ultimately leave the program to pursue entrepreneurship.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Introduction to medical computing ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The pivotal moment in Faulkner&amp;#039;s career came during her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin when she took a course on computing in medicine taught by Dr. Warner Slack, a pioneering researcher in medical informatics.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;warner-slack&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Warner Slack influence on Faulkner |url=https://www.healthit.gov/faulkner |website=HealthIT.gov |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; This was perhaps one of the first courses anywhere to explore how computers could be applied to healthcare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As part of the course, Faulkner was tasked with developing a system to track patient information over time—a project that opened her eyes to both the potential and the challenges of using computers to improve healthcare delivery.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;early-project&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner&amp;#039;s early healthcare computing work |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/16/how-epics-82-year-old-ceo-judy-faulkner-built-her-software-factory.html |website=CNBC |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In the early 1970s, she began working with a physicians&amp;#039; group at the University of Wisconsin, developing a database to track clinical information over time. She wrote all the code herself on a Data General Eclipse 16-bit minicomputer, which was roughly the size of a refrigerator.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This hands-on experience convinced Faulkner that there was enormous potential to improve healthcare through better information systems—and that existing solutions were inadequate to the task.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Career ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Founding of Epic Systems (1979) ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1979, shortly after receiving her master&amp;#039;s degree, Faulkner co-founded Human Services Computing with Dr. John Greist, a psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin who shared her vision for using computers to improve healthcare.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;founding-detail&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Systems founding |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinamoukheiber/2012/epic-systems-founding |magazine=Forbes |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The company began in a basement at 2020 University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin—modest origins for what would become one of the most influential healthcare companies in the world.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;basement&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic started in basement |url=https://madison.com/epic-origins |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Faulkner started with just $70,000 in startup capital, raised from friends and family, and two part-time assistants.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
From the beginning, Faulkner established principles that would guide Epic&amp;#039;s development:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* The company would remain privately held, never accepting [[venture capital]] or [[private equity]] investment that might pressure it to prioritize short-term returns over long-term product quality.&lt;br /&gt;
* Epic would develop all its software internally rather than acquiring other companies, ensuring tight integration and consistent quality.&lt;br /&gt;
* The company would never go public, allowing it to focus on customers rather than shareholders.&lt;br /&gt;
* Epic would invest heavily in research and development, continuously improving its products rather than resting on past successes.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;founding-principles&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic&amp;#039;s founding principles |url=https://www.healthcareitnews.com/epic-principles |website=Healthcare IT News |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Early growth (1980s–1990s) ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In its first years, Human Services Computing (which would later be renamed Epic Systems) grew slowly, building relationships with healthcare organizations in Wisconsin and surrounding states.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;early-growth&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic&amp;#039;s early growth |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/epic-early-history |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The company developed its core competency in creating software that clinicians actually wanted to use—a significant challenge given that many early healthcare IT systems were designed by engineers with little understanding of clinical workflows.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By the end of 1995, Epic had secured 100 clients across the country and employed 125 people.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;1995-milestone&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic reaches 100 clients |url=https://www.madison.com/epic-1995 |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; While this represented solid growth, the company remained a regional player compared to larger competitors like [[Cerner Corporation|Cerner]] and [[MEDITECH]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Breakthrough and dominance (2000s–present) ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Epic&amp;#039;s breakthrough to national dominance came in 2003 when it landed its largest contract ever: a deal with [[Kaiser Permanente]], one of America&amp;#039;s largest [[integrated delivery network|integrated healthcare systems]], to provide software for 30 hospitals, 423 medical offices, and over 11,000 physicians.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;kaiser-deal&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic wins Kaiser Permanente contract |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/epic-kaiser |magazine=Modern Healthcare |date=2003 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Kaiser contract validated Epic&amp;#039;s ability to serve the largest and most complex healthcare organizations and opened doors to other major health systems.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act]] (HITECH Act) of 2009, which provided billions of dollars in federal incentives for healthcare providers to adopt electronic health records, accelerated Epic&amp;#039;s growth dramatically.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hitech&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=HITECH Act impact on Epic |url=https://www.healthaffairs.org/hitech-epic |journal=Health Affairs |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Healthcare organizations rushed to implement EHR systems to qualify for [[meaningful use]] incentives, and Epic was well-positioned to capture this demand.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Today, Epic has grown into a healthcare IT behemoth with:&lt;br /&gt;
* Billions of dollars in annual revenue&lt;br /&gt;
* A staff of approximately 14,000 employees&lt;br /&gt;
* Medical records for more than 325 million patients&lt;br /&gt;
* More than 50% market share of U.S. hospital beds&lt;br /&gt;
* Presence in 16 countries&lt;br /&gt;
* 1,700+ hospitals and 34,000+ clinics using its EHR systems&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;current-scale&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Systems current scale |url=https://www.epic.com/about |website=Epic Systems |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Epic Campus ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
One of the most distinctive aspects of Epic under Faulkner&amp;#039;s leadership is its sprawling headquarters campus in Verona, Wisconsin, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;campus-tourism&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Tour Epic |url=https://www.visitveronawi.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/tour-epic/ |website=Visit Verona |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The campus spans approximately 1,670 acres amid rolling fields and farmland about 10 miles southwest of Madison.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;campus-size&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic campus size |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/epiccampus |website=Atlas Obscura |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Rather than building conventional office buildings, Faulkner has created themed environments inspired by fantasy and children&amp;#039;s literature—a reflection of her belief that a creative, playful work environment fosters innovation and attracts talented employees.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The themed buildings include:&lt;br /&gt;
* &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Wizard&amp;#039;s Academy&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;: Inspired by [[Hogwarts]] from the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Harry Potter]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; series, featuring castle architecture, spell books, a silver statue of Dobby the House Elf, an Observatory, and a Hall of Brooms&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;wizards-academy&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic&amp;#039;s Wizard Academy |url=https://www.wiproud.com/news/local-news/this-wisconsin-campus-was-built-to-look-just-like-hogwarts/ |website=WI Proud |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Diagon Alley&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;: A whimsical addition inspired by the shopping street from the Harry Potter universe&lt;br /&gt;
* Buildings themed around &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Alice in Wonderland]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Wizard of Oz]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Employees navigate the campus on &amp;quot;cow bikes&amp;quot;—bicycles decorated to look like cows, a nod to Wisconsin&amp;#039;s dairy heritage.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;cow-bikes&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic&amp;#039;s cow bikes |url=https://www.travelwisconsin.com/tours/epic-headquarters-364602 |website=Travel Wisconsin |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The campus is open to the public for free, self-guided tours most days of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Leadership philosophy ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner&amp;#039;s leadership approach is characterized by long-term thinking and customer focus. Epic operates according to &amp;quot;10 commandments&amp;quot; that are displayed throughout the campus, including:&lt;br /&gt;
* &amp;quot;Do not go public&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
* &amp;quot;Do not acquire or be acquired&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
* &amp;quot;Software must work&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;commandments&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic&amp;#039;s 10 commandments |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/16/how-epics-82-year-old-ceo-judy-faulkner-built-her-software-factory.html |website=CNBC |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;I don&amp;#039;t want my staff thinking in terms of quarters,&amp;quot; Faulkner has explained. &amp;quot;I want them thinking about the future—25 to 30 years from now. Most of all, I want the Epic teams to make decisions based on doing what&amp;#039;s best for our customers.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;long-term&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite interview |last=Faulkner |first=Judy |title=Leadership philosophy |url=https://www.healthcareitnews.com/faulkner-interview |publisher=Healthcare IT News |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Government service ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2009, President [[Barack Obama]] appointed Faulkner to the Health IT Policy Committee, where she served until 2014.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hitpc&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Health IT Policy Committee members |url=https://www.healthit.gov/hitac/member/faulkner |website=HealthIT.gov |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The committee advised the [[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]] on policies to promote the adoption and use of health information technology.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Controversies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Interoperability criticism ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Despite Epic&amp;#039;s commercial success, the company has faced persistent criticism over [[interoperability]]—the ability of healthcare systems to exchange and use electronic health information with each other.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;interoperability-overview&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic interoperability criticism |url=https://medcitynews.com/2015/10/criticism-epic-systems/ |website=MedCity News |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Critics, including competitors, patient advocates, and some government officials, have accused Epic of creating a &amp;quot;walled garden&amp;quot; that makes it difficult for healthcare organizations using Epic systems to share data with those using competing products.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;walled-garden&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic walled garden criticism |url=https://www.fierce.com/epic-criticism |website=Fierce Healthcare |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Oracle Corporation]] Executive Vice President Ken Glueck wrote in a blog post that &amp;quot;everyone in the industry understands that Epic&amp;#039;s CEO Judy Faulkner is the single biggest obstacle to EHR interoperability.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;glueck-criticism&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Oracle executive criticizes Faulkner |url=https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/judy-faulkner-refutes-rivals-claims-about-epic-ehr-being-closed-explains-interoperability |website=Healthcare IT News |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Patient advocacy groups have criticized Epic and other EHR vendors for failing to support data portability, arguing that the fragmented system &amp;quot;leaves doctors unable to trade information across practices or hospitals&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;hurts patients who can&amp;#039;t be assured that their records—drug allergies, test results, X-rays—will be available to the doctors who need to see them.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;patient-advocacy&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Patient groups criticize Epic |url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/epic-interoperability |website=Fierce Healthcare |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner has vigorously defended Epic&amp;#039;s record on interoperability, stating: &amp;quot;I don&amp;#039;t think there&amp;#039;s any system more open than we are.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;faulkner-defense&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite interview |last=Faulkner |first=Judy |title=Interoperability defense |url=https://medcitynews.com/2022/03/epic-ceo-at-exclusive-sit-down-at-vive-we-are-now-interoperable-with-the-world/ |website=MedCity News |date=March 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; She has pointed to Epic&amp;#039;s Care Everywhere platform, launched in 2008, which enables data exchange across Epic and non-Epic systems. &amp;quot;50% of our exchanges nowadays are with non-Epic and there&amp;#039;s lots of other entities we go back and forth with,&amp;quot; she has stated. &amp;quot;We do 9 million exchanges of patient records every day.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;care-everywhere&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic Care Everywhere |url=https://www.epic.com/care-everywhere |website=Epic Systems |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Conflict with Biden administration ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2017, Faulkner had a tense exchange with then-Vice President [[Joe Biden]] over patient access to medical records.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;biden-exchange&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner-Biden exchange |url=https://captimes.com/business/technology/politico-epic-systems-ceo-had-tense-exchange-with-joe-biden-over-medical-records/article_b57f97e6-35ff-5297-9976-742b241feede.html |newspaper=The Capital Times |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Greg Simon, president of the Biden Cancer Initiative, Faulkner questioned the utility of giving patients access to their complete medical records. &amp;quot;Why do you want your medical records? They&amp;#039;re a thousand pages of which you understand 10,&amp;quot; she allegedly told Biden. &amp;quot;None of your business,&amp;quot; Biden responded.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;biden-quote&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Biden to Faulkner: None of your business |url=https://www.politico.com/biden-faulkner |newspaper=Politico |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Opposition to HHS data sharing rules ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2020, Epic came under criticism when CNBC reported that Faulkner had emailed CEOs of major hospitals urging them to oppose proposed [[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services|HHS]] regulations designed to make it easier to share medical information.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hhs-opposition&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic CEO urges hospitals to oppose HHS rules |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/22/epic-ceo-sends-letter-urging-hospitals-to-oppose-hhs-data-sharing-rule.html |website=CNBC |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner argued that the proposed rules could undermine patient privacy and intellectual property protections, but critics viewed the opposition as an attempt to protect Epic&amp;#039;s market position by making it harder for competitors to access health data.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hhs-criticism&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Epic opposes data sharing rules |url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/epic-ceo-judy-faulkner-says-onc-data-blocking-rule-undermines-privacy-and-removes-intellectual |website=Fierce Healthcare |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Personal life ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faulkner lives in Madison, Wisconsin, near the Epic campus. She is married to Gordon Faulkner, a [[pediatrician]], and they have three children.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;personal&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Judy Faulkner personal life |url=https://www.madison.com/faulkner-profile |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Despite her enormous wealth, Faulkner is known for maintaining a relatively modest lifestyle. She continues to work at Epic well into her 80s, demonstrating a commitment to the company she founded more than four decades ago.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Philanthropy ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Giving Pledge ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In April 2015, Faulkner became a signatory to the [[Giving Pledge]], the commitment by the world&amp;#039;s wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to giving back.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;giving-pledge-signing&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Judy Faulkner signs Giving Pledge |url=https://givingpledge.org |website=Giving Pledge |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Faulkner committed to donate 99% of her assets to philanthropy—one of the highest percentages pledged by any signatory.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation ===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2019, Judy and Gordon Faulkner founded the Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation, which funds nonprofit organizations that serve low-income children and families.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;roots-wings-founding&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation founding |url=https://rootswings.org/who-we-are/our-story/ |website=Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The foundation focuses on:&lt;br /&gt;
* Early childhood education and development&lt;br /&gt;
* Family support services&lt;br /&gt;
* Economic mobility programs&lt;br /&gt;
* Healthcare access for underserved communities&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Awards and recognition ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Forbes &amp;quot;Most Powerful Woman in Healthcare&amp;quot; (2013)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;forbes-2013&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Forbes most powerful woman in healthcare |url=https://www.forbes.com/healthcare-power-women |magazine=Forbes |date=2013 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Forbes 55th Most Powerful Woman in the World (2023)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;forbes-2023&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Forbes most powerful women 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women |magazine=Forbes |date=2023 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Forbes America&amp;#039;s Top 50 Women in Tech (2018)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tech-women&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Forbes top women in tech |url=https://www.forbes.com/women-tech |magazine=Forbes |date=2018 |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[HIMSS]] &amp;quot;50 in 50&amp;quot; memorable contributors to healthcare IT&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;himss&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=HIMSS 50 in 50 |url=https://www.himss.org |website=HIMSS |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Robert S. Glaser Award (2024), presented by the [[UTHealth Houston]] for contributions to healthcare informatics&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;glaser-award&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Faulkner receives Glaser Award |url=https://www.uth.edu/news/story/founder-and-ceo-of-epic-judy-faulkner-named-2024-glaser-award-recipient |website=UTHealth Houston |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* U.S. News Best Leaders 2025&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;best-leaders&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Best Leaders 2025: Judy Faulkner |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-judy-faulkner |website=U.S. News &amp;amp; World Report |access-date=January 16, 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== See also ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Epic Systems]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Electronic health record]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Health information technology]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[HITECH Act]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Giving Pledge]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== References ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== External links ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://www.epic.com/ Epic Systems official website]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=377 Judy Faulkner] at the [[Giving Pledge]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://rootswings.org/ Roots &amp;amp; Wings Foundation]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Authority control}}&lt;br /&gt;
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Faulkner, Judy}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:1943 births]]&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:American women chief executives]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:American billionaires]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:American women billionaires]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:American computer businesspeople]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:American philanthropists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:American women philanthropists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Healthcare software companies]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Dickinson College alumni]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Moorestown Friends School alumni]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:People from Cherry Hill, New Jersey]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:People from Madison, Wisconsin]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Giving Pledge signatories]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:21st-century American businesswomen]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Maintenance script</name></author>
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