Deanna Banks is a trusted advisor in the healthcare industry with more than 25 years of experience as a human capital consultant and diversity thought leader. A Principal with Furst Group, a leading retained executive search firm, her practice comprises leading hospital systems, academic medical centers, health insurance, and managed government programs. Deanna partners and consults with boards of directors and chief executive officers on executive recruitment and retention, succession planning and organizational and leadership development. She leads cultural diversity initiatives by educating leaders and organizations on successfully attracting, promoting and retaining ethnically diverse executives. Deanna has given presentations on executive development and other leadership topics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Services Executives and the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute. She serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations and has a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of Maryland.