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 each week.
Week of July 6
>Ted Holden was named as the Vice President of Client Success for Collective Health, an independent third-party administrator that combines administration, cost management and care.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Network Strategy at Noom and Chief Growth Officer at Catapult Health. During his early career, he spent over 20 years at BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.
Holden will lead a team delivering a stellar experience to Collective Health’s self-funded employer clients, drawing on his relationships across the healthcare industry and his robust experience, the company said.
“I’ve spent my career on the carrier side, the digital health side, and everywhere in between, and what Collective Health has built is genuinely different,” Holden said in a statement. “One unified foundation that brings together administration, cost management, and care navigation, with incentives aligned with employers. I’m excited to help our clients understand what’s possible and make sure they’re getting every ounce of value from it.”
>Brian S. Kim, M.D. has been named the first vice president and chief biotechnology officer at Northwell Health, as well as head of intellectual asset management at the Feinstein Institutes. He will also join the department of dermatology as a professor at Northwell Health.
The Feinstein Institutes is home to Northwell Health’s research center, and it serves as the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Kim joins Feinstein from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, bringing his expertise in dermatology, medical research and biotechnology.
His work has led to significant clinical advances, including the design of pivotal clinical trials that resulted in two first-in-class U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. He has founded three biotech companies, including Alys Pharmaceuticals, and authored over 190 peer-reviewed publications.
Kim will continue to advance Feinstein Institute’s groundbreaking research on electric stimulation to treat disease, including work on nerve stimulation implants that could potentially treat Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory conditions.
“Dr. Kim’s appointment reflects our commitment to transforming bold research into better outcomes for our patients,” said John D’Angelo, M.D., Northwell’s president and CEO. “With his leadership, we can better translate breakthrough science and pioneer the future of medicine while staying grounded in our mission to produce knowledge to cure disease.”
>Anita Girard, R.N., of the American Nurses Association\California, was elected by representatives of the American Nurses Association (ANA) as the new president representing the interests of more than 5 million nurses. Her two-year term of service will begin on January 1, 2027.
Girard, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), will lead ANA’s implementation of the organization's 2026-2030 strategic plan, and its Board of Directors. She currently serves as vice president of the American Nurses Association and most recently served as the president of the American Nurses Association\California. Prior to leading these associations, she was chief nursing officer and VP of nursing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
“I am deeply honored to be elected to serve as the next president of the American Nurses Association and to help lead this organization into its next chapter,” Girard said in a statement. “For more than 30 years, I have served this profession across clinical, operational, executive, and association leadership roles, and that experience has reinforced one enduring belief: nurses must be supported, respected, and empowered in every setting where they are educated and practice.”
Week of June 29
>The University of Oklahoma’s academic health system (OU Health) has named Jonathan W. Curtright as the new president and CEO, effective July 1, 2026. Richard P. Lofgren, M.D., OU Health’s inaugural president and CEO, announced his retirement earlier this year and Curtright will be his replacement.
Curtright has been chief operating officer of OU Health since August 22, and under his leadership, the system saw an annual revenue increase from $1.9 billion to a projected $3.7 billion in fiscal year 2026. Admissions also increased 22.3% percent and outpatient clinic visits statewide reached more than 1 million, reflecting higher patient volumes and service intensity as opposed to acquisitions.
He was also responsible for program expansions, including investments in pediatric health, cancer centers and neonatal intensive care.
OU Health board of directors Chair G. Rainey Williams Jr. said, “Jonathan has been instrumental in helping advance OU Health’s mission and strategic vision during a period of extraordinary growth. He understands the unique responsibilities of an academic health system and has demonstrated the leadership, operational expertise and long-term vision needed to guide OU Health into its next chapter. The board is confident in his ability to build upon the strong foundation established under Dr. Lofgren’s leadership.”
>Christopher O’Connor, the CEO of Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS), will be leaving after 14 years with the organization.
He will serve as a special advisor to the chair of the Board of Trustees during the transition, and the board will also be conducting a CEO search over the next months. Pamela Sutton-Wallace, the current president of YNHHS, will serve as acting CEO, effective immediately.
O’Connor joined YNHHS after leading the acquisition of the Hospital of Saint Raphael, and during his time with Yale, he oversaw multiple hospital integrations and strategic collaboration with Yale Medicine. YNHHS has been well positioned by O’Connor to open the Adams Neurosciences Center in 2027, which is the largest strategic project in the history of the academic health system, according to the release.
“We are extremely grateful to Chris for his commitment to the System and many years of service,” said Mary Farrell, chair of the YNHHS Board of Trustees. “He has worked tirelessly to serve our patients and communities during the pandemic with exemplary care and results, and leaves YNHHS in a strong and successful position as we continue to offer the very best care to every one of our patients.”
>The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) announced that their president, David J. Cole, will retire in June 2027 after 13 years. He initially joined MUSC in 1994, and Cole will remain a professor and surgical oncologist with the system.
An extensive nationwide search for Cole’s successor will be led by former board chairman and sitting trustee James Lemon, D.M.D, and conclude next spring.
During his tenure, he secured support for the construction and opening of Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion, as well as the Jean and Hugh K. Leatherman Behavioral Care Pavilion in Florence. Cole also maintained MUSC’s U.S. News & World Report accolade as the “Best Hospital” in South Carolina.
"To have had the opportunity to lead and serve this remarkable institution has been one of the great privileges of my life," Cole said in a statement. "MUSC stands today as one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, a testament to what can be achieved when people are united in service to patients, students, families, communities and one another.”
>Alice Rigdon of Mayo Clinic in Florida will join Deaconess Health System as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective this fall. She will succeed Cheryl Wathen, who is retiring after more than 36 years with Deaconess, including 16 years as the system's CFO.
At Mayo Clinic Florida, Rigdon drove capital and finance transformation initiatives, including standardization, automation and workforce development. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, she served as VP of finance at SCL Health's Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver and as director of outpatient strategy and development and CFO of Piedmont Medical Center in South Carolina.
Wathen was initially named senior vice president and CFO of Deaconess in 2010, after serving as manager of internal audit, manager of finance, CFO of The Women's Hospital and controller of Deaconess Health System.
"What I am most proud of is the people I have hired and mentored who have excelled in their roles and will be the leaders that take Deaconess into the future,” Wathen said in a statement.
>The American Hospital Association named Steve Walsh as its upcoming president and CEO, taking over for the retiring Rick Pollack. Walsh comes from a similar role at the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and will stay there until the appointment takes effect this fall. Read more here.
>Symplr, a provider of enterprise healthcare operations software, appointed Andrew Langford as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. As symplr continues to scale its investment in AI-powered innovation, Langford is poised to help drive the company’s next phase of value creation and operational excellence, the company said. He succeeds Tom Fink, who has served as interim CFO since early 2026, and will ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Langford was previously an executive vice president at Zelis, where he oversaw financial strategy, treasury, enterprise pricing and operational planning for the healthcare and financial technology company. Prior to Zelis, he spent nearly a decade at Global Payments, Inc. in a series of progressively senior finance leadership roles.
“Andrew brings the strategic perspective, financial discipline and operational acumen that will help guide symplr through its next phase of growth,” said Venkat Kavarthapu, symplr CEO, in a statement. “His expertise in scaling global organizations, executing strategic transactions and partnering across the business will be instrumental as we continue to invest in AI-powered innovations that reduce complexity, enhance care quality and deliver value for our customers.”
Week of June 22
>President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Chris Klomp has been tapped to serve as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Klomp, who heads the Department of Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has made a rapid rise through the agency to a potential role as its second-in-command. The Deputy Secretary post has been vacant since February, when Jim O'Neill departed the agency. At the same time, Klomp was elevated to a senior adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
In the Truth Social post, Trump said that Klomp's career trajectory "proves that he is a potential STAR." He said that he, Kennedy and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., chose Klomp as a nominee "together."
"Chris is a Strong and Inspiring Leader and a Highly Successful Entrepreneur," Trump wrote in the post. "Everywhere Chris goes, he earns TRUST. He is a person of principle, and is deeply committed to serving the AMERICAN People — and fixing our broken Healthcare System."
>Michael Wagner, MD, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Care New England Health System (CNE), will step down as CEO and transition to become Chair of the Board of Directors. The Board has begun the process to search for CNE’s new CEO and President, aiming to have new leadership by early 2027.
Dr. Wagner joined Care New England in 2022, and he was responsible for implementing an Epic electronic health record program and a strategic planning initiative. Wagner also secured $100 million in capital in order to expand the system and restored the organization to positive operating performance. He intends to remain President and CEO until the successor has been selected and onboarded, which will ensure a smooth transition.
Gary Furtado, the current Chair of the CNE board, will continue to serve in his role until the transition is complete. Furtado said in their release that: “Mike’s leadership has been transformative for Care New England. His vision, commitment, and steady leadership have strengthened the organization clinically, strategically, and financially. The Board is grateful for his service as CEO and pleased that he will continue to support the organization as Board Chair.”
>Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center announced today that Omar Lateef, D.O., president and CEO, intends to retire from his role in June 2027. The Rush Board of Directors also announced that it will begin a national search for the next system leader in early fall.
Lateef has been connected to Rush for over 25 years, completing his fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in 2005 and joining the faculty afterwards. In 2019, he became the chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and in 2022, he became the CEO of the system.
In these leadership positions, Lateef led Rush’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earning both him and the system widespread recognition. Under Lateef’s leadership, Rush University Medical Center’s standing among the nation’s premier academic medical centers has grown significantly, including repeated placement on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll, according to the organization. He helped establish national benchmarks for quality and safety through Rush’s leadership in Vizient quality outcomes.
“Omar’s career at Rush exemplifies extraordinary dedication to our mission and our patients,” said William Downe, Chair of the Rush University System for Health Board of Directors. “From his arrival as a fellow more than two decades ago to his service as President and CEO, he has helped shape Rush into the organization it is today.”
>Madeline Bell, the CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), will retire on October 1, 2026, after almost 40 years with the organization. CHOP's current president, Joseph (Joe) Mitchell, M.D., will succeed her.
Bell, who has served as CEO for 11 years, announced her intent to retire in 2024, beginning the search for CHOP’s new leader. In April 2025, Mitchell joined CHOP and began to work closely alongside Bell, the Board, and their C-suite to ensure a smooth transition.
Mitchell brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including roles at both Boston Children’s Hospital and Franciscan Children’s Hospital. At Franciscan, he secured approvals and capital to support its 10-year institutional master plan. Prior to this, he worked at McKinsey & Company for 14 years, including seven years as partner.
“Joe brings a fresh perspective, a patient-first approach and a strong strategic mindset," Greg Davis, chairman of CHOP’s board, said in the announcement. "We are confident he will guide CHOP into its next chapter with continued excellence and impact.”
Week of June 15
>Kevin Leahy, the CEO of nonprofit Catholic healthcare ministry Franciscan Alliance, will step down from his position on December 31.
He plans to stay with Franciscan as an internal consultant until the end of 2027, to facilitate the leadership transition. Following this, he will retire after 48 years of service at Franciscan.
"It is our responsibility to continue Christ’s ministry in our Franciscan tradition by serving the needs of all who seek healing of body, mind and spirit, especially the most vulnerable among us," Leahy said in a statement.
>MultiCare Health System announced its CEO, William (Bill) Robertson, will retire on Dec. 31. The current president, Florence Chang, will become the health system's new President and CEO beginning on Jan.1 2027.
Chang and Robertson will continue to work closely together this year to ensure a smooth transition.
Robertson has been part of the MultiCare team since 2014, serving as CEO since 2022 and growing MultiCare to become the largest community-based nonprofit health system in the region. He was largely responsible for their expansion across Washington state, creating a comprehensive and clinically integrated system there.
Chang joined MultiCare in 2006 as senior vice president and chief information officer. She has won multiple accolades for MultiCare, including the HIMSS Davies Organizational Award of Excellence. As executive vice president and chief operating officer, she was responsible for the smooth operation of eight hospitals and over 180 clinics.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Bill Robertson for his extraordinary leadership and the lasting impact he has had on MultiCare,” said John Wiborg, board chair for MultiCare Health System, in the announcement. “As MultiCare moves forward into this next chapter, the board has full confidence and trust in Florence Chang as she steps into this leadership role. She is a highly effective servant leader with a great passion for MultiCare’s mission, as well as a deep knowledge of the organization’s capabilities and areas of opportunity.”
>Komodo Health changed its leadership structure as part of the company's long-term vision for enterprise-wide adoption of AI. Miles Ennis, former chief operating officer, has been appointed as president, while co-founder, Web Sun, will assume the role of co-CEO. They will both work alongside co-founder and CEO Arif Nathoo, M.D.
Ennis initially joined Komodo Health as chief revenue officer in 2024, leading one of the strongest growth periods in company history and accelerating the adoption of Marmot, which is an AI-native platform that builds evidence sets for complex questions, according to the company. In his new role as President, he will continue to scale Komodo's growth opportunities, while aligning innovation with industry needs and strengthening the company’s execution.
In the company's recent press release, both Sun and Nathoo emphasize that healthcare is moving in the direction of full AI adoption, as opposed to the previous phase of AI experimentation. Sun further states that “Miles has consistently demonstrated the ability to connect strategy, product innovation, customer needs, and execution, a capability that becomes even more important as AI reshapes what is possible in healthcare and Life Sciences."
>Jamie Sharp, M.D. and Chris Rigg have joined Strive Health's executive team. The value-based kidney care company tapped Sharp as its new chief medical officer and Rigg joined as chief financial officer. Sharp will oversee the clinical strategy, while Rigg will assist with scaling the business and deploying new AI technologies.
Sharp previously served as chief medical officer at dementia care platform Rippl, and she held senior executive roles at Aetna, naviHealth and Evolent Health. "Drawing on this experience, Sharp will advance clinical outcomes and care model transformation at Strive," company executives said in a press release.
Rigg most recently served as chief financial officer and senior vice president of commercial health benefits at Elevance Health, supporting more than 32 million consumers across individual and employer group projects. In his early career, he was a healthcare-focused analyst at Deutsche Bank, Susquehanna International Group and Merrill Lynch.
"Sharp and Rigg’s leadership will help accelerate Strive’s ability to deliver measurable outcomes for patients, providers and payers as Strive continues to expand its value-based kidney care model nationwide," Chris Riopelle, CEO and co-founder, said in a statement.
Week of June 8
>R1, a healthcare revenue management leader, announced that Eric Tagliere will join the company as Chief Information Officer. During his over 30-year career, Tagliere has served as Chief Technology Officer for both Humana and Marriott, leading both companies’ technological integration.
At Humana, Tagliere spearheaded operations to advance their cloud and technology modernization strategy, according to the company’s press release. At Marriott, he was a key part of the technological integration of Starwood Hotels & Resorts and oversaw digital engineering. In his new role at R1, Tagliere will assist in R1’s transformation “from a labor-first to technology-first paradigm.” This work is in line with R1’s pioneering Healthcare Revenue Operating System that combines AI with human intelligence to improve the revenue cycle.
In his statement, Chief Executive Officer of R1, Joe Flanagan states, “I am pleased to welcome Eric to R1 as we continue to strengthen our technology capabilities and position the Company for long-term, AI-enabled growth. With more than three decades of experience leading large-scale technology transformations, Eric is a proven leader who brings unique insights and capabilities to advance our technology strategy.”
>Travis Moore will join Xealth, a leader in digital health, as the company's new Chief Revenue Officer. As CRO, Moore will lead Xealth’s revenue organization, expanding their overall footprint in healthcare, according to their recent press release.
Moore brings over 20 years of health technology leadership experience to Xealth, in fields including product management, marketing and sales. In previous roles, including as SVP of Sales & Growth at Kyruus, he oversaw the addition of commercial teams, revenue growth, organization and execution. In his statement, Moore says “Xealth has a unique opportunity to provide the missing link for digital health expansion, and now with the backing and broader vision of Samsung Health, I’m looking forward to helping our commercial team scale that impact.”
>During an induction ceremony at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) conference, Matthew Cox officially assumed the role of National Chair. HFMA is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that strives to offer finance professionals in healthcare spaces with guidance.
As chair, Cox aims to prioritize collaboration and community building to take on healthcare industry challenges. As CFO of Corewell Health, Cox focuses on making care and coverage affordable while maintaining financial integrity of the system, the organization said. C. Ann Jordan, president and CEO of HFMA states that this expertise, and his “dedication to supporting healthcare leaders nationwide make him exceptionally well suited to serve as HFMA’s next chair.”
Other executives joining HFMA as Board officers and members are as follows:
Board Officers (2026/2027)
Chair-Elect Marcus Whitney, CHFP, co-founder and CEO of Jumpstart Health.
Secretary-Treasurer Scott R Harwig, CPA, CMA, MBA, Executive Vice President and CFO at BJC Health System.
Board Members (three-year term ending in 2029)
Ash Shehata, Managing Director at Impact Advisors.
Michele Napier, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Orlando Health.
Kevin Smith, CFO of SSM Health.
Jeremy Friese, MD, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Humata Health.
>Morrison Foerster, a top global law firm, announced the addition of two new partners in the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Group and Life Sciences + Healthcare divisions. Ching Lee Fukuda and Tom Broughan provide nearly five decades of combined experience in patent and trade secret law regarding medical devices, medtech, life sciences, and technology.
Fukuda previously served as Sidley Austin’s co-leader of global IP litigation and a member of their Global Life Sciences leadership team. She was a partner there for over a decade, winning trial victories before district courts, the Federal Circuit, the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Fukuda’s work has been recognized by many legal publications, and she was named Patent Lawyer of the Year by Women in Business Law Americas in 2024.
Broughan also joins Morrison Foerster from Sidley Austin, bringing similar experience in IP litigation in district court. In Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, he regularly serves as a lead counsel and has been recognized in Best Lawyers for his work there. The two of them have worked together extensively, according to Morrison Foerster’s press release.
Brian Nash, the chair of Morrison Foerster’s global Intellectual Property Group, notes that Fukuda and Broughan will continue to work together to “enhance and expand our IP litigation footprint.”
>According to a recent LinkedIn post, Maynd Jolly has been named the CFO of Health Care Delivery for CVS Health. Previously, he worked as CFO and SVP of Growth and Client Partnerships at enGen, and Global CFO of Digital Oncology and Head of Finance at Enterprise Services.
> The American Medical Association has named Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D., as its next president-elect, a decision that comes as the current holder of that title, Willie Underwood III, M.D., takes the place of outgoing president Bobby Mukkamala, M.D.
Fryhofer is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a full-time practice in Atlanta and an adjust associate professor of medicine role at Emory University School of Medicine. She's been a member of the group's House of Delegates since 1999, elected to its Board of Trustees in 2018 and served as the board's chair from 2022 to 2023. She also previously had leading roles at the American College of Physicians as its president and a member of its Board of Regents.
Fryhofer has been a prominent voice in public health. Alongside serving as the AMA's liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (CDC ACIP), she has been a regular medical correspondent and contributor for CNN and Medscape.
“Medicine is at its best when we put patients first and remain guided by science and evidence," Fryhofer said in the organization's announcement. "We have a tremendous opportunity to improve public health and ensure every patient has access to high-quality care. I am honored to serve as president-elect as we continue that work together.”
The AMA's members elect presidents for one-year terms that turnover every June during its Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates. Underwood, a urologic surgeon with expertise in healthcare disparities and policy, was selected in last year's vote and will begin his term this week.
Week of June 1
>Rajneesh Kumar is joining Staritas, an independent health supply chain data provider, as the company's new Chief Technology Officer. It marks the company’s first major leadership hire and demonstrates Staritas’ commitment to investing in decision making technology, according to a press release.
Staritas’ CEO, Emmet O’Gara states: “Raj has the technical depth and operational leadership to accelerate our AI investments, expand our platform, and advance our mission of helping healthcare leaders make every choice clear, and we are thrilled to be adding him to our team.” His twenty-five years of experience in enterprise technology transformation leadership will allow him to accelerate product innovation that assists organizations in their informed decision-making process.
>Transcarent, an access platform for high quality, affordable medical and pharmaceutical care, announced that Anjali Jameson joined the company as Chief Product Officer. In previous roles, she led product and technology teams at Rally Health, UnitedHealth Group and Apple, building digital health products that serve employers, payers and providers.
Jameson will utilize her background to oversee Transcarent’s WayFinding platform, which is “the first agentic AI-powered health and care platform designed to guide users through the healthcare system and take action.” This platform aims to improve quality of care for self-insured employers by offering an easily navigable healthcare experience.
In the company’s press release, Glen Tullman, CEO of Transcarent, noted that, “She understands how to use AI to do what technology has done in every other industry - deliver higher quality at dramatically lower costs - and how to bring that to health and care.” This move will position Transcarent to continue leading in AI powered healthcare solutions, executives said
>AdvancedMD, a cloud-based healthcare software provider, appointed Stephanie Cho as Chief Marketing Officer and unveiled Move Care Forward, a brand platform that gives independent practices tools to reduce administrative work and focus on patient care. Cho’s appointment and this launch will power accelerated investment in the company, AdvancedMD said in a press release.
Cho formerly worked as the vice president of marketing at Simple Practice, leading customer marketing for their mental health care platform and delivering a multi-million-dollar revenue impact. She has previously held marketing leadership roles at Wells Fargo and American Express, and she holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“She’s the right leader to make sure every practice in ambulatory care knows what AdvancedMD can do for them — and that Move Care Forward isn’t a tagline, it’s how we operate,” says AdvancedMD CEO Amanda Sharp.
>Ben Nielsen will succeed the retiring CEO of Ridgeview Medical Center, Mike Phelps. Ridgeview, a nonprofit regional health care system that serves part of the Twin Cities, initiated a comprehensive process in early 2026 to select the organization's new President and CEO.
According to the Board, in this process, they “recognized Ben’s strategic capabilities, operational leadership and his experience developing and implementing many of Ridgeview’s key business priorities.” He has held multiple leadership roles at Ridgeview from 2010 onwards, including as chief operating officer, where he coordinated the health system’s ambulatory operations across campuses and locations.
Mike Phelps will remain with Ridgeview through Jan. 2, 2027, to assist with a smooth transition. He emphasizes that “Ben’s character and appreciation for our strong culture — centered on ensuring everyone we care for matters here — will help sustain our commitment to caring for our communities while keeping Ridgeview a strong, healthy organization where staff can invest their valuable time and careers.”
>Anant Vinjamoori, M.D., will serve as the new Chief Medical Officer for the Hims brand, an online comprehensive care platform. With more than a decade of clinical and executive experience, Vinjamoori brings expertise in preventive and longevity care that incorporates diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
Prior to joining Hims, he founded Next Generation Medicine, which combines medical education with AI technology to assist clinicians with incorporating longevity medicine. He is also the author of several peer-reviewed publications, and Vinjamoori received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
The Global Chief Medical Officer of Hims & Hers, Pat Caroll, says “Dr. Vinjamoori has been at the leading edge of helping people feel great at every stage of life, and he brings the perfect combination of clinical expertise and dedication to consumer access to Hims & Hers.” His work will shape Hims’ clinical backbone in the sexual health, hormone health, dermatology, weight loss, and mental health fields, according to the company’s press release.
>The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), a nonprofit funder of melanoma research, announced that beginning on July 1, 2026, Stephanie Kauffmann will serve as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Joining MRA in 2022 as Chief Operating Officer and President, she oversaw growth in research investment and philanthropic and corporate partnerships.
Kauffman will replace Marc Hulbert, Ph.D., who is leaving MRA to become CEO of the National Kidney Foundation. The Board recognized Dr. Hulbert’s contribution to strengthening the position of MRA as a melanoma research funding leader, and notes that he will continue to serve as a member of MRA's Scientific Advisory Panel.
According to Debra Black, Co-Founder and Chair of the Melanoma Research Alliance, in Kauffman’s previous role she “has earned the trust and respect of our Board, staff, researchers, donors, and patient community through her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission.” Under Kauffman’s leadership, MRA plans to continue expanding their investments in groundbreaking rare melanoma research and patient centered innovation to improve conditions for patients worldwide.
>Ardent Health President and CEO Marty Bonick "has stepped down to pursue other opportunities," the for-profit health system announced this week. Replacing him immediately is Dave Caspers, who had been serving as chief operating officer.
Bonick helmed the company through a string of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its 2024 initial public offering. Board Chairman Mark Sotir noted that work in the announcement and said the former head executive had positioned Ardent "for sustained long-term growth and help[ed] build a strong foundation as the Company continues to navigate industry headwinds with a focus on disciplined execution. We wish him all the best in his next chapter."
Caspers, meanwhile, joined Ardent in March 2025 but has spent decades in operational roles. These include senior healthcare leadership positions at Walmart Health, Banner Health and Target. He's spent the past year in the weeds of Ardent's IMPACT (Improve Margins, Performance, Agility and Care Transformation) Program.
"Over the past year, I have had the privilege of working closely with Marty, whose leadership and guidance have been instrumental in laying the solid footing on which Ardent Health now stands," said Caspers, who has also joined Ardent's board. "Today, Ardent Health and our best-in-class team are well-positioned to accelerate our next phase of growth, and I am eager to build on this momentum with a continued focus on delivering high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
Week of May 25
>Drew Altman, M.D., founding president and CEO of the influential heath policy research, polling and news nonprofit KFF, will retire from his roles at the end of this year.
He formed the organization in 1990 out of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and has since expanded its scope to include the country's largest newsroom focused on health policy, KFF Health News.
“With two small grandkids in Sacramento and Atlanta and another on the way, after what will be almost 37 years of very hands-on leadership since I founded KFF, and with KFF at the apex of its effectiveness, and the opportunity for a perfect transition, the clock in my head is telling me it’s time,” Altman said in this week's announcement.
Following the recommendation of a search committee, KFF has unanimously appointed two in-house leaders to take on Altman's titles: Larry Levitt, currently executive vice president for health policy, as CEO; and Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., currently executive vice president and chief operating officer, as president.
The pair have a combined six decades of experience at KFF already under their belt, and will take on board positions with their new roles. They will work with Altman to ensure a smooth transition through the end of the year, officially stepping into his shoes in January 2027
>Visory Health, a prescription savings program, has promoted two executives: Alexandra Robertson to chief growth officer, and Brittney Tierce to chief technology officer.
Robertson started as vice president of growth, driving the company's expansion and presence in more than 38,000 pharmacies nationwide. She will now oversee growth strategy, partnership development and program innovation.
"Visory is positioned to redefine what prescription access looks like for underserved populations, making affordability and access the norm, not the exception," Robertson said in a press release shared in advance with Fierce Healthcare.
Meanwhile, Tierce created the tech underlying Visory. She will now drive the tech strategy company-wide, including security, tech and AI innovation.
"Technology should be a bridge, not a barrier," Tierce said in the announcement. "My focus is raising that bar continuously by creating smarter systems, faster delivery and infrastructure that scales access to the communities we serve."
Week of May 18
> Healthcare AI company Abridge brought on board a new chief technology officer, San Oo, as it expands its technology into more health systems. Oo joins Abridge after previously holding leadership roles at Slack and Notion, two popular workplace and productivity software tools.
At Notion, Oo set engineering goals and directions, with a strong focus on reliability, developer velocity and agentic engineering, according to an Abridge press release. At Slack, he helped build the engineering organization during the "hypergrowth years" that defined modern workplace collaboration. Earlier, he served as CTO at ShopBack, a unicorn in the Asia-Pacific region. He was also a founding member of two companies that were later acquired: Mumbo Inc., acquired by LinkedIn in 2012, and Astro Technology, acquired by Slack in 2018.
"The platforms San helped build altered the texture of work with thoughtful technology and exceptional craft that facilitate human connection,” Shiv Rao, M.D., CEO and founder of Abridge, said in a statement. “Healthcare is the next industry that needs that kind of care and platform-level rethink, and San is the rare engineering leader who's done it multiple times."
Abridge is rapidly scaling its AI scribe and clinical decision support technology. It is live in more than 270 of the largest health systems in the U.S., including Duke Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sutter Health and Yale New Haven Health. The platform will support more than 100 million patient conversations in 2026.
"I've spent my career building products and platforms that people love to use that are secure and reliable. Now I want to do the same for healthcare, where the stakes are even higher,” Oo said in a statement. “Abridge already sits at the center of the most important moment in healthcare, the conversation between a clinician and a patient. The opportunity now is to extend that intelligence across the entire system."
Week of May 11
> Alignment Healthcare has announced multiple leadership changes that it says will power up the company for long-term growth.
In an announcement, the insurtech said that CEO John Kao has also been named as chairman of the board, allowing him to work more closely with board members. Alongside this shift, previous board chair Joseph Konowiecki has been named vice chairman and as Alignment's executive vice president of corporate affairs.
In the role, Konowiecki will provide critical enterprise-wide leadership as the team looks to build scale, Alignment said in the announcement. Konowiecki is a veteran healthcare executive.
Mark Kent will also join Alignment as president of its management services organization, or MSO. Kent brings experience in value-based care and primary care to the position, having previously held leadership roles in Humana's primary care division, Alignment said.
Alignment Healthcare has also tapped Shane Hochradel as its new chief operating officer. Hochradel has held leadership positions at Elevance Health, Highmark and UnitedHealth Group, per the announcement. All three executives will report to Kao.
“Together, these leadership additions strengthen Alignment’s operating model and position the company well for sustained growth and execution at scale,” Kao said in the announcement.
Week of May 4
> Highmark Health has tapped former UnitedHealth Group executive Heather Cianfrocco as its new chief operating officer.
In her time at UHG, Cianfrocco held multiple key leadership positions, including serving as CEO of Optum where she helmed its three core business lines: Optum Rx, Optum Health and Optum Insight. She was most recently the healthcare giant's executive vice president of governance, compliance and information security.
She announced her departure from UnitedHealth in March.
"We have boldly said that we want to be one of the organizations that solves the complex and fragmented health care system," said David Holmberg, Highmark Health CEO, in the announcement. "Heather is a seasoned, innovative health care leader who has a broad national lens, and her skills will be critical as we strive to further expand the reach of our mission and accelerate the work we are doing to transform our industry."
Highmark President Karen Hanlon will continue to lead the company's Living Health initiative, per the announcement.
> Emad Rizk will join Premier, Inc. as its new president and CEO, the company announced.
Rizk, M.D., comes to Premier from healthcare analytics company Cotiviti, where he also served as president and CEO. In the new role, Rizk will be tasked with continuing to drive Premier forward as it seeks to support better patient outcomes at a lower cost.
“I’ve seen healthcare from every angle, and I know what is at stake for Premier’s members,” said Rizk in the announcement. “Providers are being asked to do more with less in an environment that is only getting more complex. Premier has the scale, the data and the relationships to help providers make better decisions and deliver better outcomes. This is where we can make the greatest impact.”
Week of April 20
> Alexander Billioux, M.D., is joining the executive team at Cityblock as chief health officer.
Billioux spent the last five years at UnitedHealthcare, where he most recently served as chief medical officer for government programs. He also held leadership roles at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and the Louisiana Office of Public Health.
In his new role, Billioux will spearhead Cityblock's clinical strategy and care operations as the company looks to continue advancing its care model.
"I've always been passionate about ensuring that the opportunity for quality healthcare is accessible for all populations. For a large part of my career, that has meant supporting members who face increasing financial and social challenges," Billioux said in the announcement. "Joining Cityblock allows me the opportunity to leverage ground-breaking technology to empower teams to deliver high-quality, comprehensive care that improves the health of vulnerable members."
> Blue Shield of California has named Hayley Park as its new senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer.
In the role, Park will lead the charge on Blue Shield's Pharmacy Care Reimagined initiative, which eschews traditional pharmacy benefit management models for an "unbundled" approach that leans on multiple solutions to offer different elements of the benefit.
Blue Shield said Park brings more than 25 years of experience to the position, and that she served most recently at Kaiser Permanente Northern California as president of pharmacy operations and services.
“What drew me to Blue Shield is that it’s a mission-driven nonprofit health plan that’s committed to improving member health and their lives—not just lowering costs for medications,” Park said. “As pharmacy care shifts to support individuals in a more connected and personalized way, I am excited to join an organization that is transforming healthcare to make it more accessible for everyone.”
Week of April 13
Janice Nevin, M.D., will end her 12-year run as president and CEO of ChristianaCare on Sept. 1, the system's board announced.
She retires after 23 years at the organization, initially joining as its chair of family and community medicine. The physician executive is credited by the board with expanding the system's physical footprint, shepherding "significant investment in historically under-resourced areas" and strengthening its academic partnerships.
Taking up the mantle will be Jenn Schwartz, who was named executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the top of 2026. She came to ChristianaCare in 2018 to initially serve as chief legal officer. Prior to that she spent over a decade at Lourdes Health System, where she was vice president of legal affairs & general counsel as well as its executive director.
> Maui Health CEO Lynn Fulton will be stepping down on May 3 after a little over two years in the Hawaiian health system's top role. She plans to return to central Illinois to be closer to her family, according to the announcement that promises a leadership transition plan "in the coming days."
Fulton is credited with overseeing improved quality and financial stabilization during her time at the three-hospital nonprofit system.
> Tenet Healthcare Chief Information Officer Paola Arbour plans to retire at the end of this year, according to a recent regulatory filing from the for-profit hospital and ambulatory surgical center chain. She's been in the role since 2018, and plans to stick with the organization in a part-time, non-executive role through April 1, 2028 "to provide continuing transition services and support."
> Samuel Marchio was named senior vice president, chief government relations and policy officer at Ascension, per a social media post. He comes off a 15-year stint at Elevance Health (initially Anthem), where most recently served as regional vice president of federal government affairs.
> Stephen Taluja was named chief mission officer of Providence, a role that tasks him with aligning the Catholic nonprofit system's charity and service aims with ongoing strategic and organizational transformation. The appointment takes effect on June 29.
Taluja comes to the organization from a Bon Secours Mercy Health, where he is currently chief sponsorship and formation officer. He's been there in various roles since 2014, and before that led multicultural parish ministries.
> Addiction treatment provider Birches Health has added former Cigna Chief Medical Officer Doug Nemecek, M.D., to its advisory board as a senior adviser. As a senior adviser, Nemecek will work closely with the leadership team at Birches as it evolves its clinical and payer engagement strategies.
Nemecek's experience in the payer market will be key to informing this work, according to an announcement.
> Oraida Roman has been named as Aledade's new chief commercial officer, the company revealed on Wednesday. In the role, she will be tasked with leading the team's strategy around national health plan partnerships.
Roman brings 25 years of experience to the role, and will spearhead work around 200 contracts including Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans.
Week of April 6
> WellSpan Health President and CEO Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D, is calling it a career after more than eight years at the nonprofit system's helm.
WellSpan's board announced the plans April 6, sharing that Gapstur will continue in the role until the transition to a replacement is complete. No specific or expected timeline was given, other than sharing that a national search for that new executive has begun.
The system, which employs 23,000 people, has grown under her tenure from eight hospitals to 12, and from $2.5 billion of revenue to $4.7 billion. Its footprint has also expanded from five counties to 12 across Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, now reaching more than 1 million patients.
The announcement credits Gapstur with bringing "clear strategic direction" that focused on quality, safety, patient experience and employee engagement. That approach brough national recognitions and designations to its facilities, plus new developments like a genomic program bringing precision medicine into patient care.
> Centene Corporation has created two new positions to lead key segments of its insurance business.
The company said in an announcement that it has named Daniel Finke as group president for markets and commercial and Michael Carson as its group president for Medicare and specialty. Both executives will report to CEO Sarah London, per Centene.
Finke is an experienced insurance executive and will be tasked with overseeing and scaling the company's Medicaid and commercial segments. He joins the insurer from Convey Health Solutions, where he was CEO, and has also previously served as president of Aetna at CVS Health.
Carson, meanwhile, will take on an expanded role in overseeing Centene's Medicare Advantage, Part D, dual-eligible and specialty populations. He joined the company as CEO of WellCare in 2024, and previously held leadership roles at Bright Healthcare and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
London said in the announcement that the shift recognizes Carson's significant contributions to the company and the experience that Finke brings to the table in driving operations forward.
"Their collective experience will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen performance across the portfolio and deliver sustainable, profitable growth," she said.
Week of March 30
> Cory Mead was named CEO of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, effective March 30. With more than a decade in leadership roles with HCA Healthcare, Mead most recently served as CEO of HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital.
> Elevance Health unveiled a slew of new leadership appointments within its Health Benefits business and Carelon, the unit leading services such as pharmacy benefits, behavioral health and value-based care enablement.
Kristy Duffey was named president of Carelon Health. The nurse practitioner-turned-executive recently helped scale care models and boost performance at Optum and CINQCARE. She'll be taking over for Peter Haytaian, who's slated to leave the role on May 4 to focus on family commitments but will remain through the end of the year as a special advisor to ease the transition, the company previously announced.
Aimée Dailey was appointed president of government business. She's already attributed with playing "a pivotal role" in expanding Elevance's government programs, and will now have responsibilities covering Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Government Solutions and Group Retiree Solutions.
Additionally, Will Feest, currently chief operating officer for Carelon, will be adding president of Carelon Insights to his title card; Darrell Oliveira was named chief financial officer for Carelon; and Jeff Plante, previously president of Carelon Insights, was dubbed chief financial officer for the Health Benefits segment.
Elevance said the new leaders will help expand and scale Carelon, which reaches over 90 million healthcare consumers. The Health Benefits segment provides coordinated solutions to more than 45 million Elevance members.
> Kurt Small was named president and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, effective May 4.
Small is currently president of Medicaid at Elevance Health, where he has been for nearly seven years. He has over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, including roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Highmark and Aetna.
At Elevance, he oversaw a Medicaid business with about 8.5 million members. CareFirst, meanwhile, is a nonprofit with 3.5 million members primarily living in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. It has been without a permanent top executive since last September, with Ja'Ron Bridges serving as interim president and CEO.
> Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health Resources, will retire in September after four decades at the 29-hospital nonprofit.
The executive stepped into his role in 2014, and was credited by the organization in its announcement release for guiding the system "through some of the most complex public health challenges in modern U.S. history while leading significant transformation across the organization’s clinical, digital and operational capabilities."
On deck is Winjie Miao, who is currently senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. She's set for a promotion to president on April 5, priming her to step in as CEO in September when Berdan steps away. Miao has been Texas Health Resources' chief operating officer since 2022, but first joined the organization in 2000.
> Elisabeth Armstrong is the new chief of staff at the National Institutes of Health Office of the Director, filling in the void left with Seana Cranston's resignation earlier in March.
Armstrong, who has a doctorate in bioethics, comes from the Food and Drug Administration, where she served as director of the Office of the Executive Secretariat. Prior to joining government, she conducted healthcare policy equity research for Raymond James & Associates’ Global Equities and Investment, advised and held various ethics positions at biotech and healthcare organizations and was a broadcast journalist, among other roles.
Week of March 23
> Cigna Healthcare, the insurance arm of the Cigna Group, announced that it named Stanley Crittenden, M.D., as its new chief medical officer.
In the role, Crittenden will the lead the insurer's clinical operations, and will be tasked with partnering with other key leaders across the company to support the central goals of improving access and simplifying the healthcare journey for both patients and providers.
Crittenden brings years of experience in managed care, value-based care and population health to the role, Cigna said in an announcement. He most recently served as CMO at Quantum Health, and also held leadership roles at Evergreen Nephrology, Anthem and Humana.
Crittenden is also board certified in internal medicine and nephrology, Cigna said.
“I’m honored to join Cigna Healthcare at this important moment in its transformation toward making health care simpler, more personalized and more affordable,” said Crittenden in the announcement. “I am committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, doing everything we can to improve the experience and outcomes of all those we serve.”
Week of March 16
> John Haupert, president and CEO of Atlanta-based Grady Health System, will be handing the reins over to current Chief Operating Officer Anthony Saul at the end of this year.
Saul is immediately claiming the president title, and will shuffle into the top spot on Jan. 1, 2027. Haupert will stick around through 2027 in an advisory role to soften the transition, support philanthropic and capital fundraising and provide strategic guidance on a new $1+ billion medical campus the nonprofit also announced this week.
Haupert has headed Grady for the past 15 years. Saul has been around for seven, initially joining as chief financial officer.
> AI-powered prior authorization company Humata Health is bringing Liz Fowler, former director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), onto its board of directors.
The company said in an announcement that Fowler's experience at CMMI will support the team's efforts to accelerate Humata's mission to ensure patients get the care they need quickly. At CMMI, Fowler was tasked with rethinking reimbursement in Medicare and Medicaid to drive uptake of value-based care, providing critical insights she can bring to Humata.
Before her stint at CMMI, Fowler held leadership roles at the Commonwealth Fund and Johnson & Johnson. She currently serves as a distinguished scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Carey Business School.
“Liz is a unicorn, a rare leader with deep experience in all realms of the healthcare ecosystem,” said Jeremy Friese, M.D., Humata’s co-founder and CEO, in the announcement. “She understands the inherent complexities of the health system, and her expertise will be instrumental as we work toward our mission of solving these challenges."
From her role driving innovation at CMMI to her track record of bipartisan work on federal health legislation, Liz’s experience will be an invaluable asset as we make AI-driven medical review a seamless process that ensures every patient receives the right care as quickly as possible," Friese said.
Week of March 9
> Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., is retiring from his roles as CEO of Vanderbilt Health and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine at the end of 2026.
The academic system's board of directors has kicked of a national search for a successor who would hold both titles, according to the March 12 announcement.
A 1990 Vanderbilt graduate himself, Balser spent years as a cardiac anesthesiologist and surgical intensivist at Johns Hopkins before returning to Vanderbilt in 1998. He was named chair of the Department of Anesthesiology in 2001, dean of the medical school in 2008 and head of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2009. He has served as dean and in the health system's top executive role for the past 17 years.
The organization has grown from a four-hospital system to an eight-hospital system under his tenure, during which its annual net revenue also grew from around $2 billion to nearly $9 billion, according to the announcement. Part of that time was an effort he led to legally and financially separate the medical center and its system from the university as a standalone nonprofit. The organization's cash reserves also have also grown from 50 days to more than 110, with total cash on hand plus investments now exceeding $3 billion.
> Greg Hoffman, chief financial officer of Providence, will retire in June, the organization announced.
Hoffman has been with the major nonprofit system for over a decade, and served as CFO for the past five years. His tenure in the role is marked by a multi-year financial turnaround that finally brought operations into the black during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025. The announcement of his retirement also pointed to his role striking up new strategic partnerships, resetting contracts with commercial payers and heading the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system.
Providence said it plans to conduct an internal and national search for Hoffman's replacement.
Week of March 2
> Kevin Tabb, M.D., president and CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health, has given notice to the system's board that he plans to step down after this year.
The physician executive was tapped as CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess in 2011, and stayed at the top through its merger with fellow Massachusetts provider Lahey Health in 2019. Today the organization spans 14 hospitals, employs 42,000 people and cares for 1.7 million patients annually.
Alongside navigating the merger and a pandemic, Tabb is credited with advancing initiatives around care access and connecting services delivered between its locations. Beth Israel Lahey also notched new partnerships: a teaching relationship with UMass Chan School of Medicine and an upcoming cancer collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Tabb will remain in his role while the system's board searches for his successor, a process expected to take about eight to 10 months, according to the announcement.
> Health tech company Stellar Health has added Raul Smith, a veteran of Elevance Health, as its chief financial officer.
Smith has 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, according to an announcement, including six years as president CFO for Anthem's East Region. He has also served as CFO for Duo Health and Gold Kidney Health Plan.
Stellar said that Smith's experience in the health insurance industry will help the company build out its platform. Stellar supports payers in value-based care by making it easier for providers to engage with these complex environments.
In addition, he'll play a key role in driving the financial evolution of its risk-based portfolio, including the tech-enabled accountable care organization, shaco.
"Stellar is already setting the pace for value-based care, and Raul adds the institutional caliber to match our growing scale," said Michael Meng, CEO and cofounder of Stellar Health. "Raul brings the financial authority to stand behind the definitive value we deliver to our payor partners. His leadership solidifies that our ROI is absolute and verifiable—impact that will only continue to compound and get better year over year."
> Wellpoint Tennessee, an Elevance Health subsidiary, has named Rachel Chinetti as president of its health plan.
As president, Chinetti will be tasked with leading the insurer's strategy and operations across the state, including a focus on affordability, access and quality for individuals enrolled in TennCare, its Medicaid program.
She brings almost two decades of experience in Medicaid and long-term services and supports (LTSS) to the role, per an announcement from the insurer. Chinetti has held multiple roles within TennCare and most recently served as a staff vice president within Elevance Health's government unit, where she led a center of excellence in LTSS.
Chinetti is also a native of the state who lives in Nashville, with strong community relationships, the company said.
“It is an honor to serve Tennesseans in this role,” Chinetti said in the release. “Wellpoint Tennessee has a strong legacy of partnership and innovation. I look forward to working alongside TennCare, providers, advocates, and community leaders to strengthen rural and maternal health, enhance long-term services and supports, and deliver more coordinated, person-centered care that helps our members live healthier, more independent lives.”
Week of Feb. 16
> James Downing, M.D., will be stepping down from his role as president and CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital near the end of 2026, the pediatric research hospital announced.
The physician executive has been with the organization for four decades, and has sat at its head for the past 12 years. Under his leadership St. Jude underwent the largest strategic expansion in its history, which included the completion of two separate strategic plans requiring nearly $20 billion of investment and over 2,300 new positions; major expansion to St. Jude's main campus; and greater international collaboration.
Prior to that he served as scientific director for eight years, a period in which he spearheaded the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project.
Downing plans to transition into a faculty role at St. Jude's Department of Global Pediatric Medicine after handing over the reins. The organization said a replacement is expected to be named over the summer.
“I’ve watched St. Jude transform the care of pediatric cancer around the world, and I’m grateful to have played a small part as its CEO," he said in the announcement. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to wake up every day and know that I have a purpose, to be a part of this workforce, and to change the outlook for children everywhere.”
Week of Feb. 9
>The Department of Health and Human Services announced several leadership changes as the agency looks to advance Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make American Healthy Again agenda.
HHS said that Chris Klomp will step into the role of chief counselor at the agency, where he will "oversee all operations of the department." Klomp currently serves as the director of Medicare.
In addition, both Politico and the Washington Post have reported that Jim O'Neill, deputy secretary of HHS and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will step down from both roles. Sources told the Post that O'Neill will be offered a position as an ambassador.
The Post reported that the shakeup comes amid significant controversy over the shift at HHS in vaccine policy and other hot-button topics. Kennedy is looking to shift talking points to more politically palatable topics, like healthy food, per the Post.
In addition to the new title for Klomp, Kennedy has tapped Kyle Diamantas and Grace Graham to serve as senior counselors for the Food and Drug Administration as well as John Brooks to step in as senior counselor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
HHS said that each of these three will also continue to hold their current roles in addition to supporting Kennedy's office.
"I am proud to elevate battle-tested, principled leaders onto my immediate team—individuals with the courage and experience to help us move faster and go further as we work to Make America Healthy Again," Kennedy said in the press release.
Week of Jan. 12
>The Federation of American Hospitals announced multiple leadership appointments this week.
The organization's new CEO, Charlene MacDonald, took the role on Jan. 1, and on Jan. 14, FAH revealed the names of key members of her team, including:
- Tilithia McBride, chief operating officer
- Adam Broder, chief strategy officer
- Alyssa Keefe, senior vice president and head of policy
- Katie Tenoever, senior vice president and general counsel.
McBride brings more than 25 years of overall healthcare experience to the COO role, including more than four years at FAH as its leading voice on patient safety, quality and public health. Broder has been at FAH for more than two years, and will take on an expanded role as chief strategy officer, spearheading efforts to support the organization's mission as well as its long-term stability and growth.
Keefe joined FAH in December 2024 and has more than two decades of policy experience, both at the state and federal levels. Tenoever will continue in the general counsel role, and has held similar titles at other trade associations, FAH said.
“Our exceptional new executive team will be integral to the Federation’s success as we write our next chapter,” MacDonald said in the announcement. “We’re at a critical moment for health care coverage and access, and our team’s proven ability to be strategic, nimble, and relentlessly solutions-oriented will allow the Federation to deliver for our members and the millions of patients they serve.”
Week of Jan. 5
>Eduardo Conrado stepped into the CEO chair at Ascension on Jan. 1, taking over for the retiring Joseph Impicciche.
Conrado has been the major health system's president since 2023, and continues to hold that title. He joined in 2018 to serve in digital, strategy and innovation positions. Prior to that, he’d spent 26 years at Motorola Solutions and served on Ascension’s board for five years.
In a blog post published this week, Conrado said his focus as CEO will be for Ascension to strengthen access to care, modernize care delivery and deepen commitments to those most in need—achieved through a combination of mission-driven strategy, capital deployment and talent.
>Jesse Ehrenfeld, M.D., has joined clinical AI company Aidoc as its new chief medical officer.
Ehrenfeld, a board-certified anesthesiologist and clinical informaticist, steps into the role after a stint as president of the American Medical Association. There, he led advocacy on issues like physician wellbeing and the responsible use of AI in clinical care. His new post will keep to those subjects as he supports Aidoc's health system customers.
“It’s clear that Aidoc’s success to date has been rooted in building technology physicians trust," he said in a release. "I’m joining to help scale that impact, ensuring that clinical AI continues to be a seamless, essential part of the modern care delivery model.”
>Abhi Rastogi took on the roles of president and CEO at Temple Health on January 2, taking over for Michael Young, who retired.
Rastogi has been with the organization for more than 20 years. He most recently served as the president and CEO of Temple University Hospital and its campuses, as well as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the broader system. He's credited with delivering more than $100 million in annual impact via operational and financial improvements.
>Christian Pass was named chief financial officer of Keck Medicine of USC, and will officially begin the new role on Jan. 12.
He comes to the academic health system from Optum, where he was president of provider and payvider enterprise clients. Before that he had several senior financial leadership titles at John Muir Health that culminated in a chief financial officer role.
“Pass has more than 30 years of health care finance leadership experience with a proven history of cultivating high-performing teams and guiding organizations through critical financial and operational transformations,” Rod Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine, said in a release. “He brings tremendous knowledge and skill to this position that will support the continued growth of the health system.”
>Sarah Ness officially began her new job as president and CEO of PeaceHealth on Jan. 3.
Ness has been with the nine-hospital system for more than 20 years, most recently as its executive vice president and chief administrative officer. She's credited with leading organizational transformations within the system's culture, technology systems and operations.
She takes over for Liz Dunne, who had announced her retirement last year.
>Chip Hubbs, the president CEO of Marysville, Ohio-based Memorial Health, shared plans to retire at the end of this year.
He's held the roles for nearly 22 years, and before that was the CEO of Community Memorial Hospital elsewhere in the state. "In all, Chip has worked for nine different hospitals throughout his career in every facet from groundskeeper and maintenance to intern, fellow, Evening Administrator, Executive Director, and CEO," according to the announcement.
Hubbs plans to work with the health system's board on a long-term strategy and transition plan during his final year in the office.
>The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the lobbying group representing pharmacy benefit managers, has named longtime policy expert David Marin as its new CEO, succeeding J.C. Scott.
Marin will officially take the CEO chair on Jan. 20, according to a PCMA announcement. He comes to the organization from drugmaker Viatris, where he was the global head of government affairs, public policy and advocacy. He also previously served as a managing principal at Podesta Group, where he led advocacy efforts for a slew of firms including the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Mylan.
He also held key staff roles on the Hill, according to the announcement.
“David Marin is the ideal leader for PCMA at a time of significant change in our industry,” said PCMA Board Chair Adam Kautzner, President of Express Scripts and Evernorth Care Management.
In addition to Marin's hire, PCMA announced that Brendan Buck will serve as the organization's new chief communications officer, also effective on Jan. 20. Buck joins PCMA from public affairs firm Seven Letter.