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.
Trump announces key hires at HHS
President Donald Trump has announced his intent to nominate three career officials to hold top positions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Trump announced nominees for assistant secretary for financial resources, assistant secretary for legislation and general counsel.
The appointments help round out the HHS’ top leadership, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed and sworn in as secretary of department Thursday. The nominees need to be confirmed by the Senate.
The announcements come amid hacksaw cuts to the federal workforce. Trump, Kennedy and Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk have signaled they intend to do the same at the HHS.
The following bios were pulled from a press release by the HHS published Thursday.
Gustav Chiarello, nominee for assistant secretary for financial resources
Gustav Chiarello is currently senior special counsel to the House Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan. He serves on the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, chaired by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald.
Previously, Chiarello served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), overseeing several hospital merger cases and healthcare and technology antitrust investigations. He also served as an attorney advisor to acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen during the first Trump administration. Chiarello’s work and research at the FTC and House Judiciary illuminated how overregulation by the administrative state and restrictions on competition negatively impacted healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
He received his undergraduate degree in economics and human resource management from the Catholic University of America. He also holds a master’s in public policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from George Mason University.
Gary Andres, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Legislation
Gary Andres is currently the Republican staff director of the House Budget Committee. He served as the Republican staff director for the House Ways and Means Committee from 2018 to 2022 and for the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2011 to 2017. He also worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
Previously, Andres worked at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Dutko Worldwide. He received his undergraduate degree in social science from Wheaton College. He also holds a master’s in political science and a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Michael Stuart, Nominee for General Counsel
Michael Stuart currently serves as a West Virginia state senator. Elected in 2022, he represents the people of Logan, Lincoln, Boone and Kanawha counties. Previously, Stuart served as a U.S. district attorney, as the chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party and as a corporate attorney. As a U.S. attorney, he led historic prosecutions, including the largest Medicaid fraud case in West Virginia state history. His career spans business, government and law, with leadership roles in economic development, corporate governance and public policy. Stuart received his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.
> Thomas J. Engels was quietly sworn in as the head of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which sits within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Engels led the HRSA under the first Trump administration from 2019-21. The HRSA administrator is chosen by the HHS secretary and does not require Senate confirmation.
> Evidently, a clinical data intelligence platform, has tapped Kai Romero, M.D., as its head of clinical success.
> Gravie, a health benefits company, has named Steve Wolin as the company’s new chief executive. Wolin succeeds Gravie co-founder and CEO Abir Sen, who will continue as chairman of the board of directors. Prior to joining Gravie, Wolin was the chief operating officer at Oscar Health.
> Primary care company knownwell welcomed Anthony Auriemma, who will start as the company’s first market medical director and vice president of clinical partnerships.
> Visana Health, a comprehensive virtual women’s health clinic, announced that it has expanded its executive team with the addition of Chevon Rariy as chief clinical innovation officer and Mike Tudeen as executive chairman.
> The Medicare Policy Initiative welcomed Neil Patil as its new health policy director and lead on Medicare Advantage technical assistance.
> AI operations company LeanTaaS announced a slate of executive moves. The company hired Maury Denton as director of enterprise accounts. It promoted Joe Versino to vice president of sales, Harwant Sethi to vice president of sales and Tim Vasil to chief technology officer.
> Tim Lacy has been tapped as president at personal health coaching company MOBE.
> Vytalize Health, a risk-bearing provider enablement platform, announced that Scott Mancuso, M.D., has been named the company’s inaugural chief physician executive officer.
> Drive Health, a Phoenix-based health tech startup that aims to increase healthcare access, address staffing shortages and improve patient outcomes, announced the appointment of Alexander Sicular as chief technology officer.
> EmblemHealth, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health insurers, announced the appointment of Daniel Knecht, M.D., as its new chief medical officer.
> Global consulting firm Berkeley Research Group welcomed Rick May, a recognized leader in healthcare quality and performance improvement, to the firm's healthcare practice in Washington, D.C.
> HarmonyCares, a value-based care provider of in-home primary care services for people with complex healthcare needs, appointed Jonathan D’Souza as chief product and technology officer.