Hospital and health system CIOs across the U.S. have made a flurry of leadership moves, including new appointments, promotions and retirements.
Some executives have stepped into expanded roles within their organizations, while others have exited as health systems rethink how they structure technology leadership amid rapid digital transformation.
The shifts come as CIO turnover remains high across the healthcare sector. A 2024 survey from healthcare executive search firm WittKieffer found that 53% of healthcare CIOs have been in their roles for three years or less. Despite the churn, succession planning remains limited: Just 39% of organizations reported having a CIO succession plan, while 25% had none and 36% said one was still in development.
Below are recent hospital and health system CIO moves Becker’s has reported.
Editor’s note: This article was updated July 15.
- Richard Lear was named CIO of Austin, Texas-based St. David’s HealthCare and Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare’s Central and West Texas division, effective July 1.
- Erica Moncrief was appointed senior vice president and chief information officer of Annapolis, Md.-based Luminis Health.
- Saad Chaudhry has stepped down as St. Louis-based SSM Health’s inaugural chief digital and information officer. He has been named CEO of healthcare consulting firm Evergreen Healthcare Partners.
- Jeanne Markland was promoted to the role of CIO at Los Angeles-based UCLA Health.
- Wes Barnes was named chief digital and information officer of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- Wasif Jamal was appointed vice president and CIO of WellSpan Health in York, Pa.
- Bill Bellando was named executive vice president and CIO of Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger.
- Jeff O’Brien was named vice president and regional CIO of Valhalla, N.Y.-based Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
- Shakeeb Akhter who served as senior vice president and chief digital and information officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has now moved to New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. At Memorial Sloan, he will serve as chief digital officer.
- Galveston, Texas-based University of Texas Medical Branch named Jayson Laban as its new vice president and chief information officer, effective May 1.
- Gainesville, Fla.-based UF Health has named Craig Richardville as its new senior vice president and chief digital and information officer, effective May 1.
- Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health has named CIO Brad Reimer to the new position of chief technology and digital officer.
- Fort Worth, Texas-based Cook Children’s Health Care named Teresa Tonthat as its new chief digital and information officer.
- Topeka, Kan.-based Stormont Vail Health named Aaron Wootton as its new vice president of IT and CIO.
- Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine has named Anika Gardenhire, RN, its first chief digital and information officer.
- Dover, Del.-based Bayhealth has named Thomas (Mac) Marlow as its new vice president and chief digital and information officer.
- Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health named Steve LeBlond its new chief information and digital officer.
- Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health promoted Donna Roach to system chief digital and information officer.
- In January, Rich Rogers retired as senior vice president and CIO of Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health.
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