Health systems across the U.S. continue to navigate mounting financial pressures, shifting reimbursement models and growing administrative complexity — placing revenue cycle leadership at the center of operational success. Each week, Becker’s is highlighting five revenue cycle leaders to know, recognizing executives who are driving performance, improving patient financial experiences and advancing innovative strategies to strengthen their organizations’ financial health.
Becker’s is accepting nominations for revenue cycle leaders to be featured in this weekly series and for the “Becker’s CFO and Revenue Cycle Podcast.” We are also recruiting speakers for the Becker’s IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, September 14-17, 2026, at the Hilton Chicago. Reach out to Andrew Cass (acass@beckershealthcare.com) or Alan Condon (acondon@beckershealthcare.com).
Five revenue cycle leaders to know:
Heather Dunn. Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Novant Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Ms. Dunn joined Novant in March 2025 as the system’s first chief revenue officer. She leads the system’s billing department, including financial assistance programs, interfacing with payers, and identifying integration and strategic opportunities. She is overseeing the transformation of the system’s revenue cycle to accelerate access to care and bring new technology and innovation into daily operations. Ms. Dunn joined Novant from revenue cycle technology company SSI Group. She previously served as vice president of finance and chief revenue cycle officer.
Joel Gentry, Vice President of Revenue Cycle, OU Health (Oklahoma City). Mr. Gentry has served as OU Health’s inaugural vice president of revenue cycle since 2017. He leads enterprise revenue cycle strategy for Oklahoma’s only comprehensive academic medical center. He has more than 20 years of revenue cycle leadership experience and is known for building accountable, high-performing teams focused on strong financial stewardship and patient-centered financial experiences. At OU Health, he has led major enterprise initiatives, including an Epic implementation and organizational divestiture, returning the system to cash baseline within nine weeks post–go-live.
Michele Napier. Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Orlando (Fla.) Health. Ms. Napier has more than 30 years of leadership experience in revenue cycle, managed care, population health and financial operations. At Orlando Health, Ms. Napier oversees $7 billion in patient revenue across 21 hospitals, 3,500 physicians and clinicians, and multiple billing entities. She has helped Orlando Health achieve more than nine consecutive years of 100%+ cash performance for acute and non-acute entities while reducing the cost to collect by 45%. She previously served as senior vice president and chief revenue officer for St. Louis-based Mercy Health.
Tracy Peffley. Vice President of Revenue Cycle, Cleveland Clinic. Ms. Peffley has served as vice president of revenue cycle since 2025 and oversees all aspects of enterprise-wide revenue cycle, including patient access support services, health information management, revenue resolution, patient financial experience and support services. She has gained recognition from Epic for revenue cycle management technology strategies and leads a number of AI initiatives and offshore labor strategies for the health system. She joined Cleveland Clinic in 2013 as senior director of revenue cycle management.
Stephen Rinaldi. Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, UNC Health (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Mr. Rinaldi has served as UNC Health’s chief revenue officer since 2016. He leads the health system’s revenue strategy, including managed care contracting, reimbursement optimization, treasury management and revenue cycle operations. He has driven AI governance in RCM, reducing costs amid rising expense and reimbursement headwinds. He previously served as CFO of Lenoir, N.C.-based UNC Caldwell, where he led the financial turnaround of a distressed hospital to a positive operating margin in a rural healthcare market.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.