Welcome to this week's Chutes & Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please submit the good news—or the bad—from your shop, and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
Oschner Medical Center, New Orleans
Beth Walker has been named the Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
From 2019-2024, Walker served as CEO at Ochsner Baptist, a Campus of Ochsner Medical Center. Prior to that she was the Chief Operating Officer of ambulatory clinics at OMC-Jefferson Highway. Originally from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Beth relocated to New Orleans in 2002 to participate in Ochsner's Administrative Fellowship program.
“During her tenure at Ochsner Baptist, Beth consistently demonstrated operational excellence, built high-performance teams, and improved the hospital's standing—a testament to her leadership abilities and dedication to patients,” Rob Wolterman, CEO for Ochsner South Shore Region, said in a statement. “We’re excited for her continued leadership with Ochsner Health.”
AdhereHealth
AdhereHealth announced that Chandra Osborn, M.D., has been hired as the chief behavioral officer. Osborn will aid in amplifying Adhere's commitment to improving patient engagement and driving superior health outcomes through cutting-edge, evidence-based solutions.
Osborn is a distinguished health psychologist and behavioral scientist, who has authored over 180 scientific publications that have contributed to reshaping approaches to communicating health information, improving medication adherence and advancing health equity. Prior to joining the Adhere team, she served as a NIH-funded scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and held executive roles at One Drop and Lirio, where she advanced digital health solutions to improve consumer engagement, health behaviors, health outcomes and health equity.
"Joining AdhereHealth is an incredible opportunity to integrate behavioral science with the company's sophisticated analytics and clinical capabilities," Osborn said in a statement. "This synergy will significantly enhance member engagement, improve adherence and drive superior health outcomes. By leveraging proven methods, we can achieve rapid, impactful results and support health plans in meeting their goals."
Emory Healthcare
After a nationwide search, Emory Healthcare has named LeWanza Harris, M.D., chief quality officer for the healthcare system. She will assume her new role on Sept. 30.
Known as a transformational physician-leader, Harris will focus on enhancing quality processes by promoting a culture of safety and value in her new role.
Harris comes to Emory Healthcare from Mount Sinai Health System in New York, where she served as vice president of quality and regulatory affairs. There, she provided strategic leadership and oversight for all quality functions across the organization. Prior to Mount Sinai, she also served as associate chief quality officer at New York-Presbyterian.
“Dr. LeWanza Harris is a change agent with a proven track record of leading impactful patient safety initiatives,” Joon S. Lee, M.D., CEO of Emory Healthcare, said in a statement. “Emory Healthcare will benefit from her expertise in clinical quality functions and leadership, as we continue our mission of exceptional, high-quality patient care.”
WeightWatchers
In a sudden leadership shakeup at WeightWatchers, Sima Sistani has stepped down as chief executive officer of the well-known weight loss company. She also has stepped down from the board as well.
The company announced Friday that board member Tara Comonte was appointed interim CEO, effective immediately. Comonte steps into the role at a time when the company is focused on improving its operational and financial performance while continuing to build on its product innovation and solutions for members, the company, WW International, said in a press release.
The weight loss and weight management company historically focused on behavior-based strategies that include diet and exercise and a points-based system for tracking calories and the nutritional value of different foods. Under Sistani's leadership, the company pivoted to to embrace new generation weight loss drugs.
Sistani took WeightWatchers in a new direction when the company acquired telehealth company Sequence, a digital health platform for clinical weight management, in March 2023. That deal expanded WW's capabilities into remote prescribing. The company then launched WeightWatchers Clinic to provide telehealth access to certified clinicians and access to FDA-approved medications.
"During her tenure, Sistani led the company’s transformation to a modern digital health organization and extended the company’s portfolio of solutions into the telehealth space with the acquisition and integration of Sequence (now WeightWatchers Clinic). This expanded the company’s offerings to include high-touch clinical weight management solutions alongside its science-backed behavioral programs," the company said.
"On behalf of the Board, I want to sincerely thank Sima for her leadership in advancing our strategy, for adding WeightWatchers Clinic to our offerings and for her unwavering commitment to our mission,” said Thilo Semmelbauer, chairman of the WeightWatchers Board of Directors in a statement.
> Orlando Health has named Shahidul Mannan as its new chief data, analytics and AI officer.
> Siva Balu, UnitedHealthcare's former CIO and senior vice president, is transitioning to health insurance agency, Quartz Health Solutions as its new senior vice president and chief information and digital officer.
> Quantum Health appointed Fares Alraie as chief technology officer to enhance the company’s generative AI platform, operational scale and member journey mapping technology.
> Remedy Place hired William Acevedo as its new chief operating officer to drive expansion and innovation in the social wellness space.
> Aegis Ventures, a New-York-based venture studio, announced the addition of Molly O’Neill, chief strategic partnerships officer, to lead the studio's efforts in collaboration with leading health systems across the country.
> Technology company Komodo Health announced Daniel Bronx as the general manager, head of analytics consulting services.
> The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) elected new members and officers to the 2024-25 board of directors. Jen Brull, M.D., is president. Sarah C. Nosal, M.D., is president-elect.
> Infermedica tapped Saurabh Johri as chief AI adviser.
> Mark Garvin joins Banner Health as senior vice president for partnership and new venture development. In this role, he leads enterprise growth with the identification and closure of new partnership and venture development.
> Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Stacy Sanders as the Chief Health Advisor on the Senate Finance Committee majority staff. She will officially join the committee in mid-October.
> Navitus Health Solutions appointed a new chief pharmacy officer, Sharon Faust, who previously held the position of VP at Lumicera Health Services, a Navitus owned company.
> Reveleer, the healthcare industry’s pioneering value-based care platform, announced the appointment of Paul Burke as its chief product officer.
> Business Group on Health, the leading non-profit organization representing large employers’ perspectives on optimizing workforce strategy through innovative health, benefits and well-being solutions and on health policy issues, has named Lisa Woods, Walmart vice president, physical and emotional well-being, to its board.