Jonathan S. Bush

Jonathan S. Bush was born on March 10, 1969. He is an American entrepreneur and politician. Bush is known for cofounding athenahealth, a healthcare technology company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, established in 1997. He served as the company's chief executive officer until June 6, 2018, when he resigned amid an activist campaign led by Elliott Management.

Early Life and Education:

Bush is the son of Josephine Colwell Bradley and Jonathan Bush. He is related to U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush; he is the nephew of George H. W. Bush and a cousin of George W. Bush. His sibling is Billy Bush, a television presenter. Bush grew up in Manhattan and attended the Allen-Stevenson School. He completed his secondary education at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

He attended Boston University during 1988–1989 for one year. Bush graduated from Wesleyan University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in The College of Social Studies. In 1997, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University.

Early Career:

Before enrolling at Wesleyan University, Bush worked on President George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign. During college, he volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), operating a 911 response ambulance in New Orleans for a summer. In 1991, he volunteered as a combat medic at the start of Operation Desert Storm, undergoing boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; however, he did not deploy overseas as the war concluded before he completed training.

Professionally, Bush was associated with J. Bush & Company, Inc., a firm established by his father that provided banking assistance to foreign embassies. He also worked as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was part of the Managed Care Strategy Group.

athenahealth:

In 1997, Bush co-founded Athena Women's Health with Todd Park, a colleague from Booz Allen Hamilton. The clinic, based in San Diego, focused on women's health and childbirth. Ed Park, Todd’s brother, contributed to developing its system. The firm evolved into athenahealth, a healthcare technology platform providing services to healthcare providers to facilitate coordinated care and maximize clinical efficiency.

In 2000, Bush secured over $10 million in venture capital funding for athenahealth. The company conducted a successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2007. Bush was CEO of athenahealth until his resignation in 2018.

Zus Health:

Jonathon Bush is listed as the Founder and CEO of Zus Health, a healthcare-related organization.

Political Activities:

On July 14, 2025, Bush established an exploratory committee to consider running for governor of Maine as a Republican candidate in the 2026 election. He held a campaign fundraiser in Kennebunkport in August 2025 and officially announced his candidacy on October 8, 2025.

Publications and Recognitions:

Bush co-authored the book "Where Does It Hurt?: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Fixing Health Care," published by Penguin in May 2014. He is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and STAT, and has appeared on the POLITICO Pulse Check podcast.

In 2013, Bush was named CEO of the Year by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC). In 2016, he received the Ellen M. Zane Award for Visionary Leadership from Tufts Medical Center. Fortune recognized him as a "disruptor" in healthcare, citing his outspoken advocacy for healthcare reform.

Personal Life:

Bush is married and has six children. In May 2018, reports alleged verbal and physical abuse toward his first wife; subsequent investigations dropped the claims. He is currently married to Fay Rotenberg.

Ancestry:

Further details on his ancestry are not specified in the provided information.

External Links:

- Campaign website

- Official athenahealth biography

- Appearances on C-SPAN