409:(OCCRP), found several instances in the years leading up to the bankruptcy where under de la Torre's leadership, while patients were suffering injury and dying for reasons attributed by federal regulators to insufficient staffing and supply shortages related to unpaid bills, Steward was instead paying large sums on investor dividends, executive bonuses, private investigators, and non-business-related travel. At several junctures, the Globe and OCCRP found evidence of Steward capital being paid specifically to ventures owned by de la Torre or for what appeared to be personal benefit.
424:
donation came from
Steward Health Care, which donated $ 3 million more in 2023. Subsequently, the contract to manage construction of the science center went to Cref, a company in which de la Torre purchased a 40% stake in 2021 with funds from Steward International and which shared a Dallas office space with Steward.
423:
which his sons attended. According to the school, the donation, which funded the creation of a new science center to be named after de la Torre's mother, originated from the "de la Torre Family
Foundation." However, no such foundation was found to have existed. Instead, tax filings found that the
358:
De la Torre continued at
Steward in the same capacity as at Caritas. The transition of a hospital system to for-profit was not without controversy, especially in the context of Massachusetts, a state dominated by non-profit health systems. De la Torre was largely the public face of the company,
427:
In another instance according to bankruptcy filings, about $ 30 million per year was paid by
Steward to Management Health Services (MHS) for "executive oversight and overall strategic directive." MHS, also part-owed by de la Torre, employed at one time 16 people, which included de la Torre and
259:
as a cardiac surgeon. He moved to Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) the next year. In 2007, he founded BIDMC's CardioVascular Institute, and acted as its first CEO until the next year. As a surgeon, de la Torre was regarded by many as ambitious and highly talented, and personally as
296:. Amid its financial difficulties and following failed attempts to sell the hospital system to another operator, the Archdiocese created an independent board of directors which began its search for a new CEO. Following his interview with the board, Caritas offered de la Torre the position.
389:." He further requested the panel to reschedule the hearing, requesting that it be held off until after the company's bankruptcy had completed, as his testimony "may run afoul of the federal court order prohibiting him from discussing
369:
346:. Nardelli was impressed with de la Torre's energy and expertise, describing him as having a "tremendous edge." The conversation led to a formal proposition for Cerberus to purchase Caritas and convert the system to
577:
683:
380:
to his role in the financial collapse of
Steward on September 12. This followed two declined invitations to testify voluntarily in April and June. However, in the first days of September, de la Torre's
891:
428:
several other
Steward executives, as well as the pilots for Steward's three private jets owned through MHS. De la Torre was in 2019 paid $ 6.3 million by MHS in a 10-month period.
959:
315:. Despite the short-term success, de la Torre believed Caritas' long-term prospects depended on a significant cash infusion—particularly to preserve jobs and fund the system's
511:
587:
406:
785:
693:
478:
851:
939:
818:
716:
179:
De la Torre is currently the subject of a congressional investigation into the financial mismanagement of
Steward, which declared bankruptcy in May 2024.
544:
385:
responded to the subpoena on his behalf, describing the requested hearing as a "pseudo-criminal proceeding" aimed at convicting "Dr. de la Torre in the
964:
752:
613:
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227:
68:
934:
901:
173:
405:
Spotlight Team report on
Steward Health Care, published in the months after Steward declared bankruptcy and authored in concert with the
646:
219:
413:
521:
949:
312:
439:, where his family spent a week-long vacation. Additionally, Steward International purchased an apartment for de la Torre in
239:
795:
488:
861:
335:
169:
828:
726:
850:
Kowalczyk, Liz; Serres, Chris; Bartlett, Jessica; Koh, Elizabeth; Arsenault, Mark; Jung, Yoohyun (September 2024).
420:
273:
195:. His parents were both of medical backgrounds, his mother a nurse and his father a cardiologist, once the head of
165:
944:
554:
549:
386:
161:
52:
578:"As bankrupt Steward sells and closes hospitals, Ralph de la Torre visits Versailles to watch the Olympics"
929:
819:"Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre won't testify before Senate panel, calling it "pseudo-criminal proceeding""
223:
58:
762:
362:
In 2020, de la Torre led a group of physicians in purchasing the entirety of
Cerberus' stake in Steward.
656:
623:
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188:
153:
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due to lack of contributions by Caritas. De la Torre sought potential investors, and in 2009 met with
432:
366:
269:
651:
618:
332:
95:
431:
MHS's jets were often found to be used for non-business travel, including to destinations such as
435:, where Steward had no official business but where de la Torre owned multiple residences, and to
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62:
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222:. After working for a short time in engineering, he attended a joint program administered by
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483:
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192:
717:"An old worry returns for Steward's nurses and retirees: Can they count on their pensions?"
684:"Steward Health Care failure in Massachusetts predicted by Catholic activists back in 2010"
328:
215:
157:
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48:
417:
324:
207:
753:"As Steward Health flails, once-supporters of Ralph de la Torre now criticize the CEO"
923:
688:
300:
281:
436:
512:"In letter to Steward employees, CEO de la Torre downplays bankruptcy proceedings"
477:
Arsenault, Mark; Kowalczyk, Liz; Weisman, Robert; Piore, Adam (March 29, 2024).
289:
280:
of Caritas Christi Health Care, a financially struggling eastern Massachusetts
347:
343:
293:
390:
377:
320:
890:
Krueger, Hanna; Bartlett, Jessica; McCarthy, Brendan (September 3, 2024).
412:
In one instance in 2022, de la Torre presented a $ 10 million donation to
823:
373:
339:
892:"Inside the secret financial dealings of Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre"
757:
316:
479:"Inside the rise and fall of Steward Health Care's Ralph de la Torre"
440:
382:
200:
359:
though throughout his life he has given limited media interviews.
545:"The CEO Who Made a Fortune While His Hospital Chain Collapsed"
172:
starting in 2008, de la Torre also served as the first head of
607:
605:
786:"Senate committee demands Steward CEO de la Torre testify"
311:
of $ 31 million in 2009, even amid the aftermath of the
852:"A Globe Spotlight Team report on Steward Health Care"
135:
118:
110:
102:
90:
82:
41:
33:
23:
168:since 2010, and previously CEO of its predecessor
199:at General Calixto Garcia University Hospital in
647:"Mass. AG: Church gives up control of hospitals"
614:"AG Coakley to review finances of Caritas group"
407:Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
191:, the son of Cuban immigrants fleeing from the
16:Healthcare executive and former cardiac surgeon
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
462:
460:
458:
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276:, de la Torre secured a meeting with the new
8:
960:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni
299:De la Torre spent his first year at Caritas
255:In 1999, de la Torre accepted a position at
242:, where he met his first wife, Wing Cheung.
176:CardioVascular Institute from 2007 to 2008.
214:from 7th to 12th grade. He graduated from
20:
268:In 2008, in part with the help of former
37:1966 or 1967 (age 57–58)
372:Committee voted 16–4 to issue its first
303:the system, turning its finances from a
452:
376:since 1981, compelling de la Torre to
174:Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's
940:American health care chief executives
885:
883:
881:
879:
260:someone with an affinity for luxury.
238:. He received surgical training from
228:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
69:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7:
751:Becker, Deborah (February 6, 2024).
746:
744:
612:Stidman, Pete (November 7, 2007).
543:Weil, Jonathan (August 18, 2024).
264:CEO of Caritas Christi Health Care
220:Bachelor of Science in Engineering
14:
817:Toole, Mike (September 4, 2024).
784:Pressman, Aaron (July 25, 2024).
682:Medsger, Matthew (May 28, 2024).
576:McGrory, Brian (August 7, 2024).
292:in 2006 following allegations of
965:American people of Cuban descent
715:Weisman, Robert (May 26, 2024).
645:Ngowi, Rodrique (May 21, 2008).
307:of $ 20 million in 2008 to an
240:Massachusetts General Hospital
1:
955:Harvard Medical School alumni
187:Ralph de la Torre grew up in
510:Gerber, Dana (May 6, 2024).
288:. Caritas' previous CEO had
935:Healthcare company founders
336:Cerberus Capital Management
230:, from which he earned his
170:Caritas Christi Health Care
981:
354:CEO of Steward Health Care
313:2007–2008 financial crisis
397:Controversy and criticism
140:
183:Early life and education
550:The Wall Street Journal
206:De la Torre received a
950:Duke University alumni
387:eyes of public opinion
224:Harvard Medical School
59:Harvard Medical School
657:Boston, Massachusetts
286:Archdiocese of Boston
257:Boston Medical Center
232:doctorate in medicine
189:Jacksonville, Florida
154:health care executive
904:on September 6, 2024
864:on September 6, 2024
831:on September 4, 2024
765:on September 6, 2024
433:San Jose, Costa Rica
367:United States Senate
652:Daily Report Online
619:Dorchester Reporter
333:private equity firm
270:Partners Healthcare
166:Steward Health Care
96:Steward Health Care
94:Founder and CEO of
626:on August 13, 2022
590:on August 14, 2024
557:on August 19, 2024
491:on August 16, 2024
443:for €8.1 million.
421:preparatory school
365:In July 2024, the
338:and former CEO of
331:, an executive at
278:board of directors
236:masters in science
798:on August 5, 2024
212:The Bolles School
197:internal medicine
147:Ralph de la Torre
144:
143:
125:Angel de la Torre
83:Years active
25:Ralph de la Torre
972:
945:Cardiac surgeons
914:
913:
911:
909:
900:. Archived from
897:The Boston Globe
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860:. Archived from
857:The Boston Globe
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791:The Boston Globe
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520:. Archived from
517:The Boston Globe
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487:. Archived from
484:The Boston Globe
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414:Greenhill School
193:Cuban Revolution
21:
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329:Robert Nardelli
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251:Cardiac surgeon
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218:in 1988 with a
216:Duke University
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158:cardiac surgeon
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49:Duke University
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208:private school
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128:Rosa O. Valdes
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98:(2010–present)
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323:and had been
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301:restructuring
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284:owned by the
283:
282:health system
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210:education at
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908:September 6,
906:. Retrieved
902:the original
895:
868:September 6,
866:. Retrieved
862:the original
855:
845:
835:September 4,
833:. Retrieved
829:the original
822:
812:
802:September 4,
800:. Retrieved
796:the original
789:
779:
769:September 6,
767:. Retrieved
763:the original
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731:. Retrieved
727:the original
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694:the original
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661:the original
650:
640:
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624:the original
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588:the original
581:
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522:the original
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493:. Retrieved
489:the original
482:
437:South Africa
430:
426:
411:
403:Boston Globe
400:
364:
361:
357:
319:, which was
317:pension plan
298:
274:Jack Connors
267:
254:
205:
186:
178:
146:
145:
86:2008–present
18:
156:and former
924:Categories
594:August 19,
561:August 19,
528:August 19,
495:August 19,
447:References
393:efforts."
348:for-profit
344:Home Depot
294:misconduct
391:mediation
321:uninsured
272:chairman
42:Education
824:CBS News
383:attorney
374:subpoena
340:Chrysler
290:resigned
226:and the
111:Children
758:WBUR-FM
733:May 29,
700:May 29,
667:June 3,
630:June 3,
418:private
378:testify
119:Parents
441:Madrid
325:frozen
309:income
246:Career
201:Havana
160:. The
103:Spouse
149:is a
136:Notes
91:Title
910:2024
870:2024
837:2024
804:2024
771:2024
735:2024
702:2024
669:2024
632:2024
596:2024
563:2024
530:2024
497:2024
416:, a
370:HELP
342:and
305:loss
234:and
34:Born
28:M.D.
164:of
162:CEO
53:BSE
926::
894:.
878:^
854:.
821:.
788:.
755:.
743:^
719:.
686:.
655:.
649:.
616:.
604:^
580:.
547:.
514:.
481:.
455:^
401:A
350:.
203:.
73:MS
63:MD
912:.
872:.
839:.
806:.
773:.
737:.
704:.
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634:.
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565:.
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71:(
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