Tasked with responsibilities that span recruitment, retention, compensation, benefits and professional development, these executives ensure their organizations attract and support top talent. The foremost architects of workplace culture, they align human capital initiatives with their organizations’ values and business goals, fostering a thriving and engaged workforce.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of included leaders, organizations or healthcare providers. We are compiling this list on a rolling basis using editorial research and nominations. We are accepting additional nominations through March 31, 2025 — please submit a nomination to be considered. Leaders and organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Leaders are presented in alphabetical order.
Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
Lisa Abbott. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Boston Children’s Hospital. Ms. Abbott serves as Boston Children’s Hospital’s executive vice president and CHRO. She handles all aspects of the organization’s human capital strategy and human resources operations, with the ultimate goal of building Boston Children’s into a top human resources enterprise. Ms. Abbott joined Boston Children’s in 2023 after spending nearly seven years as senior vice president of human resources and community affairs at Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan.
Michelle Adamolekun. Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer for Cone Health (Greensboro, N.C.). Ms. Adamolekun is the executive vice president and chief people and culture officer at Cone Health, where she has been instrumental in improving employee recruitment, retention and leadership development since joining in 2021. She led the organization’s successful efforts in earning the “Great Place to Work-Certified” designation by focusing on culture and innovation. Ms. Adamolekun has developed partnerships with local colleges, community colleges and high schools to create talent pipelines, ensuring the organization’s future workforce needs are met. She also serves on various boards and is the founder of the Jamaica Reggae Girlz Foundation, which fosters opportunities for the global Jamaican diaspora. Recognized for her leadership, Ms. Adamolekun has been named a “Top 15 Champion for Diversity” by Diversity Global Magazine.
Peter Adebi. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer for Cincinnati Children’s. Mr. Adebi has made a significant organizational impact at Cincinnati Children’s since joining in 2024 as senior vice president and chief human resources and diversity officer. He quickly redefined the human resources strategy around five key priorities, including leadership development, talent activation and creating an inclusive workplace culture. Under his leadership, the organization launched global workforce playbooks and successfully transitioned to a new retirement plan and an enterprisewide Workday system. He also spearheaded the development of a foundational AI training course, which received such positive feedback that it’s being considered for external use. With more than 20 years of experience, Mr. Adebi brings a strong background in healthcare and strategic human resources leadership.
Ramona Agrela. Senior Vice President of UCI Health and Vice Chancellor of Human Resources for UC Irvine (Calif.). Ms. Agrela, senior vice president of UCI Health and vice chancellor of human resources for UC Irvine, is the architect of a transformative human resources model that empowers over 17,000 employees through innovation, strategic alignment and people-first leadership. As a member of both the chancellor’s and president’s cabinets, she plays a critical role in campuswide and health system decisions, with her vision driving talent acquisition, workforce planning, total rewards, onboarding and organizational culture. In 2024, Ms. Agrela led one of the most ambitious workforce integrations in higher education and healthcare history, successfully onboarding 4,300 new employees within days following the acquisition of four hospitals and numerous ambulatory centers. She orchestrated cross-functional human resources teams to ensure seamless operational continuity, including time tracking, benefits enrollment, union transitions and rapid communications through UCI’s Employee Experience Center. Beyond UCI, Ms. Agrela serves as board president of the College and University Professionals Association–Human Resources Southern California chapter and sits on the American Research Universities Human Resource Institute board. She was named a 2025 finalist for National Human Resources Association of Orange County’s “Executive of the Year” award.
Calvin U. Allen. Executive Vice President and CHRO for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Leading a team of 200 human resource professionals, Mr. Allen is responsible for the hospital’s strategic people plan. His goal is to create a desirable employee experience from recruitment through retirement for a workforce of nearly 30,000. Mr. Allen has spearheaded various initiatives and programs, including early adoption of automation to create efficiency and cost savings, and enhancing the comprehensive employee benefits program. These benefits include high-impact options such as tuition reimbursement, student loan forgiveness resources, transportation assistance, and employee health and wellbeing programs. Under Mr. Allen’s leadership, employee engagement scores at the health system have consistently improved over the past four years. The hospital has received numerous accolades from nationally recognized publications and organizations, including being named to ComputerWorld’s 2025 list of “Best Places to Work in IT”, being designated a Military Friendly Employer five years in a row and being named a leading disability employer by the National Organization on Disability four times. Mr. Allen is a noted presenter on topics such as corporate culture and strategy, leadership and employee wellbeing. He participated in the release of the U.S. Surgeon General’s framework on workforce mental health and wellbeing.
Beth Alpers, BSN, RN. CHRO at University of Missouri Health Care (Columbia). Ms. Alpers is a registered nurse with extensive leadership experience in designing, developing, and delivering strategic solutions that add value to communities and health systems. She is highly skilled in leadership, talent acquisition, organizational development and strategic communications. She has served as CHRO of the health system since 2020.
Julie Ann Alvarado-Dubek. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Banner Health (Phoenix, Ariz.). Ms. Alvarado-Dubek is the top people person at Banner, creating a positive and inclusive environment that encourages growth and opportunity for the 55,000-plus team members. She has over 30 years of experience in senior leadership roles across multiple HR functions, including 14 years at Banner Health. Her expertise includes organizational leadership and transformation, wellbeing strategies, and comprehensive total rewards initiatives to engage and retain employees. Before working at Banner Health, Ms. Alvarado-Dubek served as an HR executive at Fender Musical Instruments, Freescale Semiconductor and Motorola.
Olesea Azevedo. Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative and People Officer at AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, Fla.). Ms. Azevedo serves as chief administration officer for AdventHealth, while retaining her function as chief people officer. In this dual role, she oversees one of the largest faith-based healthcare systems in the U.S., with more than 97,000 team members in 50 hospitals and 73 medical facilities across nine states. Since joining AdventHealth in 2016, she has led the organization’s “team member promise” initiative, creating a culture focused on wellbeing and engagement. Her role also entails leadership of people and culture, corporate services, sustainability, brand, marketing and consumer experience, further enhancing AdventHealth’s commitment to both its workforce and patient communities.
Lilicia Bailey, PhD. Senior Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at CommonSpirit Health (Chicago). Dr. Bailey has more than 20 years of human capital leadership experience. She develops effective, sustainable and transformative human capital strategies to enable growth and invigorate efforts to solidify the ministry’s culture of engagement, innovation and accountability. Before joining the system in 2023, she served as chief people officer for Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. She has also held human resources leadership positions at Winston-Salem, N.C.-basedWake Forest Baptist Health, Belk and Cox Enterprises.
Scott Ballard. Chief People Officer for MaineHealth (Portland). Mr. Ballard joined MaineHealth in 2021 as its chief people officer. He oversees human resources functions for the system’s nearly 22,000 employees. Prior to transitioning to healthcare, Mr. Ballard served in various HR roles for Shell Oil Company.
Ian Barrett, EdD. Executive Vice President and CHRO for Kaleida Health (Buffalo, N.Y.). Dr. Barrett serves as executive vice president and CHRO at Kaleida Health, leading human resources strategy for Western New York’s largest healthcare provider. With 30 years of human resources leadership experience, he oversees a team responsible for culture, talent management, labor relations and systemwide operations across the $2 billion organization with over 11,000 employees and 1,500 providers. In 2024 alone, Dr. Barrett led the hiring of 2,205 team members. He has also created a three-year leadership development roadmap, strengthened partnerships that enhance medical and prescriptions plans, and much more. He spearheaded major infrastructure improvements, including the launch of Infor CloudSuite and compensation reforms, while advancing benefits, multi-state employment support and new leave policies. Dr. Barrett was named a “Power 100 Leader of Color” by Buffalo Business First in both 2023 and 2024 for his championing of employee engagement, development and operational excellence at Kaleida Health.
Jennifer Berres. Senior Vice President and CHRO for HCA Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.). Ms. Berres is responsible for delivering value to patients, physicians and communities through innovative human resources strategies. She leads a team of over 1,600 HR professionals and is responsible for talent acquisition, leadership, organizational development, compensation and benefits, labor and employee engagement, employee relations, and diversity and inclusion. She first joined HCA in 1993 and has served in many different leadership roles, including vice president of HR business and president of talent management.
Heather Brace. Chief People Officer at Intermountain Health (Salt Lake City). Ms. Brace is responsible for engagement culture for Intermountain Health’s more than 65,000 employees. She has strategic oversight for talent management and development, recruitment, human resources service delivery, total rewards, culture enhancement, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion. She first joined the system in 2000 and assumed the CPO role in 2018. She has overseen large-scale reorganizations of departments and service lines, benefit additions and transformations, and employee experience enhancement. Under her leadership, Intermountain has increased the minimum wage, expanded employee education opportunities, expanded benefits like parental leave and infertility coverage, developed a remote work strategy, strengthened partnerships with local businesses, and created programs like the Intermountain Food Box program, PTO donation and the Caregiver Assistance Fund to help employees in need. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Brace created benefits like Covid Pay to help impacted caregivers and spearheaded cross-country partnerships with healthcare systems in New York surging with Covid-19 patients.
Rhonda Brandon. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Duke Health (Durham, N.C.). Ms. Brandon is Duke University Health System’s senior vice president and CHRO. Immediately prior to assuming the role, she was senior vice president and CHRO for St. Louis-based BJC Healthcare. In her current position, she launches programs that enhance performance, cultivate a positive work environment, and position the system to meet its strategic goals.
Alen Brcic. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Methodist Health System (Dallas). Mr. Brcic is the senior vice president and CHRO at Methodist Health System, bringing nearly two decades of healthcare human resources leadership. Before joining in 2024, he held key roles at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt Health and Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health, most recently serving as chief people officer at Rockford, Ill.-based Mercyhealth, where he oversaw human resources strategy across seven hospitals, a large medical group and an insurance division. His expertise extends beyond healthcare, having founded, operated and successfully sold a technology-driven professional services company. Mr. Brcic brings to his current role a strong blend of healthcare, technology and business acumen, as well as a passion for workforce innovation and organizational excellence.
Michael Brown. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Houston Methodist. Mr. Brown is a human resources executive and attorney with diverse industry experience across several Fortune 250 companies. In his current role, he is responsible for leading the health system’s human resources functions, which impacts 32,000 employees, 5,000 affiliated physicians and 800 faculty members. Mr. Brown previously led the human resources department at Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente.
Dennis Burns. Assistant Vice Chancellor and CHRO for University of North Texas Health Science Center (Fort Worth). Mr. Burns is the assistant vice chancellor and CHRO at UNT Health Science Center. In this role, he is responsible for shaping and executing the enterprise’s human resources strategy, playing a critical role in optimizing people-centered activities like hiring, training and performance management and ensuring these functions align with the university’s growth and strategic goals. Mr. Burns has established human resources as a strategic partner within the organization, spearheading workforce planning strategies and refining talent acquisition processes, including the hiring of the executive team.
DJ Campbell. Vice President and CHRO for Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.). As vice president and CHRO at Sanford Health, Mr. Campbell oversees human resources strategy for nearly 3,800 employees in the Bismarck market. He has significantly improved employee engagement, spearheaded leadership development programs and introduced a board-level committee to focus on employee experience. He also led efforts to strengthen the system’s talent pipeline by partnering with K-12 schools and higher education institutions. His leadership extends beyond the system, serving on the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and the Workforce Development Council, where he influences statewide workforce development. Additionally, his inclusion initiatives have further enhanced the organization’s culture.
Maxine Carrington. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Ms. Carrington leads the people strategy for the 85,000-plus team member Northwell Health, with a focus on maximizing organizational effectiveness and performance. She has been with Northwell since 2008 and has served in progressively responsible leadership roles. Prior to joining Northwell, she was a manager and attorney with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations. She is also an instructor with the Center for Learning & Innovation, Northwell’s corporate university, and serves as a co-sponsor of the organization’s business employee resource groups.
Aimee M. Claiborne, DA. CHRO for Dartmouth Health (Lebanon, N.H.). Dr. Claiborne serves as Dartmouth Health’s CHRO, leading people strategies for the six-hospital, 14,000-employee system. Her current primary goals are remodeling talent retention and recruitment strategies to address the impact of the pandemic and the national workforce shortage. Dr. Claiborne has been with Dartmouth Health since 2010.
Betsy Clough. Vice President and CHRO for UW Health (Madison, Wis.). Since April 2020, Ms. Clough has served as system vice president and CHRO at UW Health, leading human capital strategy for a 24,000-employee system that includes seven hospitals and over 90 outpatient sites. Under her leadership, UW Health has achieved significant milestones, including launching groundbreaking registered apprenticeship programs and earning national recognition as one of Forbes‘ “Best-In-State Employers” in 2024. She co-led the “Design Our Future Work and Workforce” initiative, aligning talent strategies with future needs and guiding workforce continuity through the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms. Clough’s efforts in recruitment have supported major system expansions, achieving near-100% hiring success. Additionally, her focus on employee engagement and retention has caused industry-leading low turnover.
Catherine Codispoti. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Mercy (St. Louis). Ms. Codispoti joined Mercy in December and is focused on hiring, recruiting and retaining co-workers for the health system’s multi-state region. She most recently served as chief people officer at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. She has also held a variety of financial and organizational roles at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
Natalie Cook. Vice President and CHRO for Sturdy Health (Attleboro, Mass.). Since joining Sturdy Health in 2022 as CHRO, Ms. Cook has reimagined the human resources function into a strategic driver of organizational success. She led a comprehensive department restructure, establishing four focused service areas and launching an embedded human resources business partner model that fosters real-time communication and issue resolution. Her initiatives in talent acquisition have saved $12.8 million by reducing contract labor costs and halving open requisitions, all while maintaining a below-state-average nurse vacancy rate of 8.6%. Ms. Cook also led critical upgrades to information and payroll systems, improving efficiency and compliance while reducing the medical and pharmacy benefits budget by $1.2 million. She introduced competitive, employee-centric benefits like an employer-seeded health savings account and expanded wellness resources through a new committee and annual fair. She also reinvigorated service awards, rolled out stay interviews and helped overhaul organizational policies. Ms. Cook contributes to systemwide progress through roles on key committees and serves as a board member of the Connecticut Health Care Coalition.
Anna Cramer. Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Chief People Officer for Nebraska Medicine (Omaha). Ms. Cramer serves as chief legal and compliance officer and chief people officer for Nebraska Medicine, overseeing legal, government affairs, risk management, privacy and human resources functions. Since joining Nebraska Medicine, she has played a pivotal role in shaping compliance and workforce strategies, initially serving as interim general counsel before her appointment as chief legal and compliance officer in 2018. Before transitioning to healthcare, she provided legal and regulatory counsel across industries including pharmacy, health insurance, real estate and franchising. An active leader in the community, Ms. Cramer serves on the board of Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue and is a member of professional organizations such as the American Health Lawyers Association and the Nebraska Bar Association.
Gina M. Cronin. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Children’s National Hospital (Washington, D.C.). As chief people officer at Children’s National Hospital, Ms. Cronin leads the organization’s comprehensive people strategy, including employee experience, wellbeing, human resources technology transformation and leadership development. With a strong clinical operations background, she brings an operator’s mindset to her role, integrating business, strategy and physician alignment into agile workforce solutions. Under her leadership, Children’s National has launched a systemwide well-being initiative, introduced data-driven mental health programs and revamped recruiting efforts to significantly reduce nursing vacancies. She also serves as executive sponsor of the hospital’s first-ever administrative fellowship program, launching in July 2025, aimed at cultivating future healthcare leaders. Previously, Ms. Cronin served as chief talent officer at Cleveland Clinic, where she led the talent management strategy for 80,000 caregivers and played a pivotal role in the system’s early expansion. She is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kathryn “Katie” Cullinan. CHRO for Nuvance Health (Danbury, Conn.). Ms. Cullinan was appointed CHRO at Nuvance Health in 2022, leading human resources strategy for the $3 billion, seven-hospital system with 15,000 employees across western Connecticut and eastern New York. Since stepping into the role, she has driven significant workforce improvements, reducing recruitment overhead by 80% and temporary labor costs by 63% while filling over 10,200 positions and lowering the vacancy rate from 12.5% to 7%. She also implemented evidence-based employee engagement strategies, cutting first-year turnover from 50.2% to 28%. A key advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team, she has played a pivotal role in crisis management, including resolving payroll challenges during the Kronos outage. With 25 years of human resources experience across healthcare, financial services, hospitality and manufacturing, Ms. Cullinan leverages deep expertise in talent strategy, workforce optimization and organizational integration.
Hallie Custer. Vice President of Human Resources for Parkview Health (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Ms. Custer is Parkview Health’s vice president of human resources, leading strategy for a workforce of over 16,000 employees across more than 20 counties in Indiana and Ohio. Reporting directly to the chief administrative officer and the system board, she oversees five key divisions: total rewards, human resources operations, talent acquisition, talent development and strategic educational partnerships. Ms. Custer has championed several innovative programs since 2023, including the widely utilized “lifestyle benefit” stipend, the volunteer time off program, a therapy dog initiative, and a program that provides co-workers with essential financial and mental health support. Her initiatives have significantly enhanced employee engagement and wellness, earning high participation rates and driving positive cultural change. Beyond Parkview, she is deeply involved in community leadership through board roles with organizations such as the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Latinos Count, and Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana. She is recognized as a regional voice on workforce development, frequently representing Parkview in local media as the region’s largest employer.
Ed Daech. CHRO for UF Health (Gainesville, Fla.).Mr. Daech became the first executive vice president and CHRO of the University of Florida Health clinical enterprise in October 2024, after serving as CHRO for UF Health Shands since January 2023. In this expanded role, he leads systemwide human resources operations, including employment, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and occupational health and wellness. Mr. Daech drives next-generation workforce strategies, talent management, and leadership development to attract and retain a high-performing workforce in a competitive healthcare environment. His leadership is instrumental in fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes employee engagement, wellbeing and professional growth. Before UF Health, he served as CHRO at New Brunswick, N.J.-based Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and held multiple human resources leadership roles at St. Louis-based Ascension Health. With a diverse background spanning healthcare, food service and manufacturing, Mr. Daech brings a strategic and innovative approach to human resources service delivery, workforce development and organizational excellence.
Carla Dawson. Chief People Officer at Texas Health Resources (Arlington). Ms. Dawson is passionate about developing an inclusive culture that attracts, retains and inspires team members. Under her leadership, Texas Health has undergone a transformative journey, elevating the consumer experience and optimizing HR functions. Her accomplishments include designing and managing benefits offerings, modernizing HR technology solutions, spearheading business acquisitions, and leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Arti Dhuper. CHRO at Prime Healthcare (Ontario, Calif.). Ms. Dhuper has been with Prime Healthcare for nearly 20 years. In her current role, she oversees its human resources departments and corporate offices across the health system, which encompasses more than 45,000 employees. During her tenure, she has led HR transitions for more than 42 hospital acquisitions.
Scott Doak. CHRO at UNC Health (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Mr. Doak has been with UNC Health since September 2019, serving over 40,000 employees of the UNC Health System. He led an organizational transformation that shifted several transactional and disparate human resources organizations, functions and platforms into one high functioning human resources shared services organization. He also modernized and enhanced the system compensation program, developed and deployed a leadership architecture that supports UNC Health’s new operating model, launched a human resources service center, deployed a business partner model, and strengthened and enhanced systemwide wellness and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Previously, Mr. Doak was the system’s senior vice president of human resources from May 2017 to September 2019. He came to UNC Health from the Cleveland Clinic, where he served for a total of five years, his last two as executive leader of human resources shared services.
Errol Douglas, PhD. Senior Vice President, CHRO at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, N.Y.). In his 10 years as the top human resources executive for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Douglas has led major initiatives in support of outstanding employee engagement, leading to staff growth of more than 30% and a staff retention rate five points higher than the national average in healthcare. New programs initiated under his leadership include Roswell Park’s first formal corporate social responsibility program, an organizational development unit, additional resources for staff engagement and the multiyear collaborative effort to onboard a new resource management system. Dr. Douglas leads payroll, benefits, labor relations, human resources information systems, employment, recruitment and retention work at the 127-year-old cancer center. He also helped cement Roswell Park as one of the top employers in the state of New York, as reflected in numerous surveys conducted by outside groups. Across nearly two decades as an executive leader in human resources management, Dr. Douglas has driven human resources engagement that enables high levels of achievement across an organization’s core mission areas. Under his leadership, Roswell Park earned the highest possible rating of “exceptional” from the National Cancer Institute in 2024, and in early 2025 achieved Magnet status for nursing excellence.
Deborah “Debbie” Dover. CHRO and Senior Vice President of Talent Engagement for Ballad Health (Johnson City, Tenn.). Ms. Dover has served as CHRO and senior vice president of talent engagement at Ballad Health since 2018, bringing over 25 years of human resources leadership experience. She plays a key role in integrating culture and values across the health system, ensuring workforce strategies align with Ballad Health’s mission. Previously, as vice president of human resources at Memorial Healthcare in Owosso, Mich., she led strategic human resources initiatives and provided executive leadership in talent management. Ms. Dover’s background includes leadership roles in hospitals and post-acute facilities, including prior experience with Johnson City-based Mountain States Health Alliance. She also brings to the role deep regional ties and an ability to build relationships and strategic partnerships.
Deanna Dudley. CHRO for El Camino Health (Mountain View, Calif.). Ms. Dudley is CHRO for El Camino Health, where she is a strategic partner to executive leadership and leads comprehensive workforce management initiatives across the Silicon Valley-based health system. Her portfolio spans employee and labor relations, DEI and belonging, talent acquisition and development, human resources operations, total rewards, employee health and workforce wellbeing. Under her leadership, El Camino Health implemented resilience and mental health programs, strengthened succession planning and enhanced operational efficiency, most notably achieving $2.3 million in first-year cost savings through a transformative talent acquisition strategy. She introduced automation to reduce hiring time by over 50% and led negotiations that improved hospital operations while maintaining financial sustainability. She also drove the launch of a shared service center for a more consistent employee experience and oversaw benefits initiatives projected to save $2 million annually.
Jimmy Duncan. CHRO of OU Health (Oklahoma City). As the architect of people and culture domain at Oklahoma’s flagship academic health system since January 2023, Mr. Duncan implemented successful cultural transformation initiatives for physicians, clinical and non-clinical staff while developing a comprehensive talent lifecycle management system. Within two years, his cultural leadership initiatives supported achievement of all green metrics on the organizational scorecard. He has significantly enhanced OU Health’s benefits, introducing a 6% 401(k) match, paid family leave, infertility support, performance incentives and the Wellbeing360 system. He strengthened employee educational advancement through tuition assistance, degree acceleration programs and student loan repayment for clinical staff. Under his guidance, employee engagement has increased significantly. A paid volunteer program has generated 746 hours of community service in just 18 months. His commitment to advancing and supporting next-generation workforce development helps cultivate the future workforce. Beyond his role at OU Health, Mr. Duncan serves on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation board and OU Price College of Business executive academy advisory board.
Kimberlee Eskierka. Interim CHRO for UC San Diego Health. Ms. Eskierka serves as the interim CHRO for UC San Diego Health, leading human resources strategy for more than 20,000 employees across the health system and the health sciences divisions. She oversees talent acquisition, organizational development, labor relations and human capital planning, ensuring alignment with UC San Diego Health’s strategic priorities. With over two decades of human resources leadership experience in both public and private sectors, she has driven transformative initiatives in workforce recruitment, retention, leadership development and process optimization. Previously, she played a key role at UC Davis (Calif.), earning the prestigious 2024 “Friend of Nursing” award for her collaboration with nursing teams. She also held multiple leadership roles at UC San Diego with systemwide influence. An expert in employee relations and workplace culture, she also serves on the personnel advisory board for the Port of San Diego and has published articles on burnout and human capital management.
Terri Feely. Chief People Officer for Inova (Falls Church, Va.). Ms. Feely is chief people officer for Inova, directing and managing human resources systemwide. She has fostered her skills in human resources throughout her 30-year career, ultimately joining Inova in 2018 to create an environment of respect, engagement and achievement. Before joining the system, Ms. Feely was running her own human resources consulting firm.
Stacy Feltz. Chief Administrative Officer for Hillsdale (Mich.) Hospital. Ms. Feltz serves as chief administrative officer at Hillsdale Hospital, where she leads human resources and several other departments with compassion and hands-on involvement. In a rural health setting with over 500 employees, she manages everything from recruitment, benefits and compliance to employee development, pastoral care and dietary services. She regularly teaches leadership and preceptor classes to grow strong internal talent. Her leadership is deeply personal, often keeping her door open, working late into the evening and prioritizing people in every decision. Under her guidance, the hospital has maintained a people-first culture even through difficult moments, such as disciplinary processes or staff loss. Ms. Feltz has held her role at the hospital for more than 11 years.
Christopher Ford. Senior Vice President of Human Resources for St. Tammany Health System (Covington, La.). Mr. Ford serves as the senior vice president of human resources at St. Tammany Health System, playing a pivotal role in driving key human resources strategies that support the organization’s growth and continuity. His responsibilities include spearheading succession planning initiatives, overseeing total compensation programs, and fostering a dynamic, diverse workforce through robust talent pipelines. Mr. Ford is also instrumental in managing academic partnerships to enhance talent acquisition and development. With a background in labor and employment law and human resources, he offers strategic guidance to executive leadership, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. His leadership has been recognized through St. Tammany’s receipt of the Press Ganey “Guardian of Excellence” and “Pinnacle of Excellence” awards. Prior to his current role, Mr. Ford held human resources leadership positions at Ascension DePaul Services in San Antonio, Texas and at Lexington, Ky.-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
Karen Frenier, RN. Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Nurse Executive at Orlando (Fla.) Health. Ms. Frenier leads human resources and nursing operations at Orlando Health, overseeing recruitment, compensation and benefits, education and training, organizational development, and nursing and patient-care services. With a background in nursing and executive leadership, she brings a unique perspective to workforce strategy, improving RN turnover by 21% and achieving engagement scores in the top quintile. Under her leadership, over 400 frontline nurse leaders have completed developmental programs, contributing to higher nursing retention and engagement. She also drives strategic workforce initiatives, including a weekly huddle with 300 leaders to enhance communication and best practice sharing. Ms. Frenier champions development through the preferred education program, which has enabled over 5,172 employees to access higher education, with $4.1 million invested in 2024 alone. Her commitment to workforce development includes medical assistant apprenticeships and surgical tech training programs, reinforcing her philosophy to hire for culture and train for skills, ensuring Orlando Health remains a best place to work.
Kimberly Fulcher. Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing, CHRO and Executive Director for Volusia Health Network at Halifax Health (Daytona Beach, Fla.). Ms. Fulcher holds multiple concurrent roles, serving as senior vice president of human resources and marketing, CHRO and executive director of Volusia Health Network at Halifax Health. She leads comprehensive human resources strategies for workforce engagement, talent acquisition, organizational development and employee wellbeing. Since joining Halifax Health in 2005, she has modernized and streamlined human resources functions, resulting in increased retention, improved satisfaction and a culture of professional growth. In addition to overseeing the Halifax Health Auxiliary and managing work-life benefits, she advances regional healthcare through her leadership of Volusia Health Network. Nationally recognized for her contributions, Ms. Fulcher is chair of the Vizient human resources executive committee and serves on the Daytona State College Foundation board. In her role, Ms. Fulcher leverages over 30 years of experience across multiple industries.
Joe Gage. Chief Administrative Officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health (Cincinnati). Mr. Gage serves as chief administrative officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the largest U.S. health systems and the largest private, nonprofit health system in Ireland, supporting nearly 60,000 associates. He oversees human resources, IT, global services and three academic institutions, prioritizing associate engagement, talent development and operational excellence. Under his leadership, the system has seen record RN hiring, the lowest RN turnover in four years and improved internal mobility. Mr. Gage has championed numerous transformative human resources initiatives, including the implementation of Workday and the expansion of associate benefits like paid parental leave, Guild education benefits, flexible scheduling options and innovative compensation strategies. He has led the adoption of robust DEI programming, employee resource groups and employee wellness efforts.
John Galley. Senior Vice President and CHRO at UPMC (Pittsburgh). Mr. Galley serves as chairman of the board of directors of EBenefits Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of UPMC, in addition to serving as senior vice president and CHRO at UPMC. He has experience working in the steel, retail, global technology and healthcare industries with responsibilities relating to strategic initiatives in both the corporate human resources and finance areas, including insourcing and outsourcing solutions.
Aaron Gillingham. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for WellSpan Health (York, Pa.). Mr. Gillingham became WellSpan Health’s senior vice president and chief people officer in September 2023, bringing over 25 years of human resources leadership experience. In his current role, he is responsible for creating and implementing a human capital strategy that prioritizes culture. The 20,000-team member system brought Mr. Gillingham on to help strategically drive systemwide transformation.
Sebastien Girard. Chief People and Belonging Officer for Novant Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Mr. Girard, chief people and belonging officer at Novant Health, is an experienced operations and talent management executive with over 20 years of experience in the staffing and healthcare industries. Before joining Novant Health in April 2024, he served as senior vice president and chief people officer at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, where he led workforce strategies for the large health system. His expertise spans talent acquisition, human resources, sales leadership, and profit and loss management, with a track record of adapting recruitment strategies to evolving market demands. Known for his servant leadership approach, he fosters collaboration and employee engagement while successfully guiding organizations through growth, mergers and economic challenges. Mr. Girard is also a sought-after speaker at national human resources and CHRO conferences.
Myra Gregorian. Chief People and Transformation Officer for Seattle Children’s. Ms. Gregorian leads a team of approximately 225 professionals at Seattle Children’s, all focused on delivering exceptional experiences for patients, families and a growing workforce across four states. Since joining in 2017, she has transformed the human resources function by embedding values-based leadership, advancing health equity, overhauling employee benefits, and implementing strategic workforce development and planning. In 2024, her role expanded to include leading the strategic plan transformation office, where she now drives organizationwide change to accelerate innovation, expand partnerships and promote financial excellence. Under her leadership, Seattle Children’s has realized significant operational efficiencies and tens of millions in cost savings, all while growing the workforce by nearly 3,500 team members. Her initiatives have included launching a People and Culture Resource Center, upgrading enterprise systems, and rolling out a recognition platform to strengthen employee engagement. Ms. Gregorian brings prior experience in various hospital and health system settings, including serving as CHRO at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
John Hammond. Senior Vice President and CHRO for Norton Healthcare (Louisville, Ky.). Mr. Hammond is Norton Healthcare’s senior vice president and CHRO. He has been with the system for over a decade and was promoted from system director to senior vice president and CHRO in January 2023. His main priorities in this role are employee retention, talent acquisition, employee engagement, workforce development and core human resources services.
Kelly Hancock. Executive Vice President and Chief Caregiver Officer for Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Hancock is executive vice president and chief caregiver officer at Cleveland Clinic, and has played a pivotal role in reducing caregiver vacancy rates from 14.7% in 2022 to 6.5%, far outperforming the 16.4% national benchmark. She spearheaded the creation of four apprenticeship programs for pharmacy, sleep, epilepsy and ophthalmology, which benefited over 190 participants and strengthened the organization’s talent pipeline. Through strategic workforce planning, her team analyzed more than 2,800 tasks, unlocking $3.8 million in annual savings and generating capacity equivalent to 154 full-time positions. Dr. Hancock’s leadership is marked by a personal approach that includes daily team engagement and frequent rounding with frontline caregivers. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Smart Business “Smart 50” award for 2024 and LinkedIn’s “Top Voices in Frontline Healthcare” in 2020. With more than 30 years at Cleveland Clinic, she is a primary driver of caregiver engagement, operational excellence and culture across the organization.
Sue Harris. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Beth Israel Lahey Health (Cambridge, Mass.). Ms. Harris directs the system’s overall human resources strategy with a focus on building and advancing talent, culture, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also oversees employee relations, labor relations, health and wellness programs, total rewards, performance management and workforce planning. She has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and is dedicated to supporting the health system’s workforce and advancing the next generation of talent.
Matt Hayes. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn.). Mr. Hayes oversees human capital and services for Community Health Systems. He is responsible for talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership and organizational development, compensation benefits, labor and employee relations, diversity, equity and inclusion. He has more than 20 years of hospital management experience, including time spent with hospitals, markets and divisions affiliated with CHS, Health Management Associates and Quorum Health Corporation.
Tony Hernandez. CHRO for Encompass Health (Birmingham, Ala.). Mr. Hernandez, CHRO at Encompass Health, oversees human resources functions and recruitment initiatives for the organization’s more than 40,000 employees. An experienced executive leader, he has successfully managed teams in complex, multi-stakeholder and fast-paced environments, delivering measurable business results across financial services, healthcare and manufacturing. His expertise spans organizational development, change management, talent management, and business acquisitions and integration. Prior to Encompass Health, he served as executive vice president of human resources at Regions Financial Corporation and held leadership roles at PharMerica and Citigroup. Employing a collaborative and results-oriented approach, Mr. Hernandez excels in driving workforce strategies that enhance business operations, value creation and people development.
Edmund Hodge. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Trinity Health (Livonia, Mich.). Mr. Hodge is responsible for leading the national strategy to engage and serve Trinity Health team members. He joined the system in 2017 from Orlando-based AdventHealth. For six years, he served as senior executive officer and chief people officer for most of AdventHealth’s organizations in the Central Florida Division. He spent more than a decade as executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Adventist HealthCare in Rockville, Md., where he provided executive leadership for a number of business units, as well as corporate administrative and shared services. He also served in several leadership roles for Huguley Memorial Medical Center (now Texas Health Huguley) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Greg Holmes. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.). Mr. Holmes drives national human resource strategy and operations at Kaiser. He was promoted to executive vice president and CHRO in January 2024, expanding his scope of responsibilities to address the organization’s growing portfolio. He leads talent acquisition, organizational capability expansion, DEI initiatives, labor relations, total rewards and performance, and career pathing and development. He reports directly to Kaiser Permanente’s chair and CEO and is a member of the CEO Executive Committee and the National Executive Team. He first joined the system in 1998 as director of executive compensation and returned in 2017 as vice president of total rewards. Most recently, Mr. Holmes led the overall strategy, development and implementation of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals’ compensation and benefits programs. He partnered closely with labor relations on national bargaining and other union negotiations for compensation and benefits matters. Prior to joining Kaiser, he spent 17 years in corporate human resources.
Alex Horvath. Senior Vice President and CHRO for TMC Health (Tucson, Ariz.). Mr. Horvath serves as CHRO for TMC Health, overseeing human resources strategy across four hospitals, a philanthropic foundation and a robust medical group. Under his leadership, TMC Health has become an employer of choice, achieving outstanding staff retention rates, particularly among nurses and other critical roles. Mr. Horvath has led innovative recruitment campaigns and shaped a culture of engagement, wellbeing and growth, leveraging employee feedback to inform operational improvements. He has expanded wellness initiatives to include counseling services, an onsite gym, and creative programs like book clubs and puzzle nights. Most recently, he played a key role in integrating staff from a local cancer center into the health system, ensuring cultural alignment and a smooth transition.
Dallis Howard-Crow. CHRO at UCHealth (Aurora, Colo.). Ms. Howard-Crow joined UCHealth in December 2014 and is responsible for all human resources functions across the system. She has extensive experience in the healthcare field, having previously served in leadership positions including chief administrative officer and CHRO for Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare. She manages a workforce of more than 33,000 people across 14 hospitals and 200 clinic locations.
Tanya Isaacs. Senior Vice President and CHRO for The New Jewish Home (New York City). As senior vice president and CHRO at The New Jewish Home, Ms. Isaacs heads labor relations, workforce development and employee retention. A recognized negotiator, she has successfully led union discussions with New York State Nurses Association, 1199SEIU, United Federation of Teachers and more. She’s also the driving force behind SkillSpring, The New Jewish Home’s workforce development initiative, which has helped more than 1,300 underserved youth launch healthcare careers or pursue higher education. Under her leadership, the organization boasts an 80% certified nursing assistant retention rate, which far surpasses the national average. Ms. Isaacs introduced a follow-up orientation program that has strengthened engagement and long-term satisfaction among new hires. A champion of professional development, she also shares her expertise as an adjunct instructor and mentor, empowering future human resources leaders.
Corey Jackson. Senior Vice President of Human Resources at UCSF Health and CHRO at UCSF (San Francisco). Mr. Jackson is senior vice president of human resources at UCSF Health. He leads all human resources functions for UCSF Health. He brings a career background in health care, government, law, sports, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Cheryl James. Vice President and CHRO for Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Ms. James, vice president and CHRO at Loyola Medicine, provides strategic direction to integrate human resources strategies across the system. She is known for her transformational leadership style, placing a strong emphasis on talent development, diversity and inclusion, which have driven business growth and organizational performance. Her work has resulted in improved colleague retention and a collaborative workplace culture. Ms. James’ leadership has significantly impacted human resources strategies, focusing on creating inclusive environments and advancing business success. She has previously served as the CHRO at Adtalem Global Education and Hillrom, where her vision facilitated organizational transformations and improved employee engagement.
Jeff Jarreau. CHRO for North Oaks Health System (Hammond, La.). Mr. Jarreau serves as the senior human resources leader at North Oaks Health System, overseeing recruitment, staffing, benefits, compensation, employee relations and wellness programs for more than 3,000 employees. With over three decades of service at North Oaks and a clinical background in nursing, Mr. Jarreau brings a unique perspective, blending hands-on healthcare experience with strategic workforce management. Under his leadership, staff engagement surged by over 30%, reaching a record-high 77% in the 2024 Press Ganey survey, while turnover dropped to 17.29%, outperforming the Louisiana state average. He has spearheaded impactful workforce initiatives, including the accelerated licensed practical nurse program in partnership with Northshore Technical Community College, which has helped reduce contract labor reliance and diversify the nursing pipeline. Mr. Jarreau also leads educational programs such as the North Oaks School of Radiologic Technology and the dietetic internship program, ensuring a skilled, future-ready workforce.
Kim Jensen. CHRO for Avera Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Ms. Jensen has served as CHRO at Avera Health since 2018, leading systemwide human resources strategy and workforce initiatives. With more than 20 years of experience at Avera, she has played a pivotal role in centralizing human resources operations and implementing key programs to strengthen workforce development. Prior, as vice president of talent management, she launched workforce career services that focused on career planning and educational outreach, building a strong talent pipeline. Ms. Jensen has also enhanced workforce alignment and satisfaction via standardized employment practices, systemwide online performance reviews and employee engagement surveys. Before her systemwide leadership role, she spent 15 years in human resources leadership at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. and over a decade in administration and human resources for the South Dakota Human Services Center.
Adele Johnson-Kebe. Vice President and CHRO for Dayton (Ohio) Children’s Hospital. Ms. Johnson-Kebe serves as vice president and CHRO at Dayton Children’s Hospital, where she has made a significant impact in just over three years. As the organization’s first CHRO, she has driven initiatives across leadership development, compensation, talent strategy and employee relations. Under her leadership, the “Rise Program”, which originally focused on diversifying the nursing workforce, has evolved into the Rise Academy, addressing critical roles and internal mobility through a DEI-informed, financially inclusive model. She has championed person-first performance management, launching initiatives such as quarterly one-on-one check-ins and a behavior- and outcomes-based review process. She also prioritizes employee wellbeing, helping Dayton Children’s earn the 2025 platinum level “Healthy Work Culture” recognition from the American Heart Association and the 2024 silver level “Joy in Medicine” award. Beyond the traditional human resources function, she serves as executive sponsor of the Asian American and Pacific Islander employee resource group and leads the wellbeing task force.
David A. Jones. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Wellstar Health System (Marietta, Ga.). Mr. Jones is executive vice president and CHRO for Wellstar. In this role, he has overall systemwide responsibility for establishing, enabling and maintaining organizational effectiveness and a positive employee relations environment. He is responsible for providing senior executive leadership and oversight for the delivery of HR solutions to the business, including human capital strategy, culture design and change management, team effectiveness, workforce planning, performance management planning, succession management, diversity and inclusion, and employee relations. Previously, he served as CHRO at Stanford University and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente’s senior vice president of national human resources. Mr. Jones’ nearly 30-year career in human resources has spanned across the healthcare, academic and corporate sectors.
Rhonda Jordan. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Virtua Health (Marlton, N.J.). Ms. Jordan is executive vice president and CHRO for Virtua Health, the largest healthcare system in southern New Jersey, where she leads the strategic vision for talent management, organizational culture and workforce wellbeing for more than 15,000 employees. With over 30 years of human resources experience, she has been instrumental in expanding Virtua’s workforce and launching initiatives that shape a highly engaged, inclusive culture. Since 2019, she has led the development of the “Culture of WE” and expanded Virtua’s colleague communities, including the 2024 launch of “VisABLE” to support neurodivergent and differently abled staff. Ms. Jordan also established the award-winning “WE Thrive” program, promoting employee wellbeing and work-life connection, which earned recognition via NJBIZ’s “Healthcare Heroes” awards. Her leadership has helped Virtua earn consistent placements on Forbes’ “Best-in-State Employers” list and similar recognitions.
Leeann Kaminsky. Senior Vice President and CHRO at WVU Medicine (Morgantown. W. Va.). As CHRO, Ms. Kaminsky manages human resources functions across 23 hospitals for more than 30,000 employees. She led the health system’s integration of HR services, including standardizing and integrating all benefit plans, compensation, administration and procedures. She has served in her current role for more than seven years.
Tammy Kenber. CHRO for UC Davis and UC Davis Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Ms. Kenber has served as CHRO for UC Davis and UC Davis Health since December 2022. She aims to improve every stage of the employee lifecycle, from the time an individual applies to the time they retire. She handles benefits, recruitment, compensation, human resources policies and more. Prior to joining UC Davis, she was associate vice chancellor for human resources at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor.
Gloria Kenny. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Montefiore Einstein (New York City). Ms. Kenny took on her current role in 2021, overseeing the people function for more than 40,000 associates. With 30 years of experience, she is leading a next-generation transformation of HR by integrating digital innovation, process optimization and associate engagement evolution to enhance organizational agility and people-first outcomes. She is focused on advancing Montefiore Einstein’s organizational goals by aligning human capital planning with business objectives, optimizing labor management practices, and strengthening workforce strategy to drive engagement and long-term sustainability. Ms. Kenny has built a highly skilled leadership team within a multi-entity academic health system focused on helping the organization adapt, grow and thrive.
Bill Kilmer. CHRO for Adventist Health (Roseville, Calif.). Mr. Kilmer is the CHRO at Adventist Health, where he oversees a wide range of human resources functions, including labor management, benefits administration and employee wellness. He is dedicated to improving retention and reducing turnover by fostering a supportive work environment. Mr. Kilmer’s leadership led to a 4% reduction in turnover in 2023 and the creation of a program that reduced underworked hours by 15,000 per pay period. Additionally, he is leading the development of a virtual employee health experience to streamline onboarding and enhance the employee experience. His efforts contributed to Adventist Health being recognized as one of Oregon’s top large employers by Forbes in 2024.
Kristin King. CHRO for VCU Health System (Richmond, Va.). Ms. King is CHRO for VCU Health System, beginning her role in September 2024. With over 20 years of human resources leadership experience, she is responsible for developing and executing equitable workforce strategies that align with VCU Health’s business and strategic goals. Previously, as senior vice president and CHRO at Lynchburg, Va.-based Centra Health, she led initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion, revamped talent acquisition strategies and transformed compensation structures to align with industry best practices. Before Centra, she spent nearly two decades in human resources leadership at Carbondale-based Southern Illinois Healthcare. Additionally, Ms. King brings a strong background in corporate training, workforce development and process improvement.
Qualenta Kivett. Executive Vice President and Chief People and Talent Officer at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. As executive vice president and chief people and talent officer, Ms. Kivett is responsible for leading Tampa General Hospital’s human resources department. She uses evidence-based strategy to empower and amplify the voices of team members to enhance engagement, grow development opportunities and harness the voice of the organization’s people. Her work has been integral in Tampa General’s growth from a $1.2 billion organizational net revenue in 2017 to $2.6 billion in 2023. She was also instrumental in leading Tampa General’s recent acquisition and integration of TGH North, growing the academic health system to six hospitals and more than 150 care locations. In addition, she was a key part of a benefits program redesign that implemented mental health programs, compensation redesign and market adjustment totaling $48 million since 2022.
Elisabeth Klar. Senior Vice President and CHRO for Memorial Health (Springfield, Ill.). Dr. Klar, senior vice president and CHRO at Memorial Health, has led transformative human resources strategies that directly impact talent acquisition, workforce development and cost efficiency. Under her leadership, the system launched a new career website, boosting user traffic and engagement by 74%, and implemented a direct hire program that cut time-to-hire by 24 days. She oversaw the streamlining of compensation structures, reducing pay structures from 29 disparate structures to six and pay ranges from 1,500 to just 95. Dr. Klar also helped reduce contract labor costs by $15 million and partnered on a pay premium dashboard that saved $1.5 million year-over-year. Her team developed specialized clinical courses for new graduate nurses and expanded childcare facilities to support staff. Dr. Klar brings over 20 years of human resources experience, including time spent at Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health and Cleveland Clinic.
Michelle Kligman, PsyD. Executive Vice President and CHRO for Jackson Health System (Miami). Dr. Kligman serves as executive vice president and CHRO for Jackson Health System, overseeing human resources strategy for the 15,000-employee academic health system with a $1.2 billion budget. Since joining the system in 2013, she has led major initiatives to enhance employee engagement, redesign compensation and benefits, and implement enterprisewide labor management and leadership development functions. She has successfully negotiated six labor union contracts and driven human resources process improvements that have strengthened performance management, just culture and patient safety. Dr. Kligman leverages over 15 years of leadership experience in human resources, including a senior role with the City of Miami and consulting across multiple industries.
Lori Knowles. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston, Texas). Ms. Knowles oversees staffing, training and retention strategies for Memorial Hermann Health System’s 34,000 employees across more than 270 care delivery sites. Since 2016, she has transformed the system’s approach to human resource strategies by implementing the organization’s “Well Together Human Capital Strategy” aimed at creating a healthy, safe and supportive environment for healthcare workers. Her approach involves shifting from more traditional human resources models to an employee-centric model, focusing the system’s overall strategy on organizational culture, talent acquisition and the employee experience. The introduction and expansion of these programs has led to measurable outcomes, including reduced turnover, improved retention rates and less reliance upon contract labor employees.
Crystal Kohanke. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Arkansas Children’s (Little Rock). Ms. Kohanke is Arkansas Children’s senior vice president and chief people officer, bringing more than 30 years of human resources leadership across healthcare, education, finance and marketing sectors. Known for aligning day-to-day work with high-level organizational goals, Ms. Kohanke has fostered a mission-driven, people-centered culture focused on achieving unprecedented child health. She spearheaded the launch of Arkansas Children’s first peer-to-peer recognition platform, Celebrate, which strengthens employee engagement by linking recognition to the organization’s core values of safety, teamwork, compassion and excellence. Under her leadership, the platform has expanded to celebrate personal milestones and integrate inclusive tools like Workhuman’s Inclusion Advisor, ensuring a bias-conscious and welcoming environment. She has earned the “Women Leadership Award” in the corporate executive category from the San Antonio Business Journal.
Michelle H. Kohler, PhD. Executive Vice President of Human Resources and CHRO at Ascension (St. Louis). Dr. Kohler serves as executive vice president of human resources and CHRO at Ascension, where she leads efforts to create a meaningful associate experience in alignment with Ascension’s mission and enhance organizational effectiveness. She oversees strategic human resources initiatives that drive leadership, cultural and organizational development, talent acquisition, associate engagement, compensation and benefits, labor and associate relations and internal communications. From 2021 to 2024, Dr. Kohler was senior vice president of human resources, delivering forward-thinking, operationally aligned solutions that strengthened Ascension’s culture, leadership and workforce capabilities. She also led executive recruiting, internal communications and strategy optimization across the system office and ancillary teams. Before that, she provided human resources leadership for the Florida and Texas ministry markets, the strategy and innovation team, and The Resource Group, a subsidiary of Ascension.
Mary Leahy. Senior Vice President and CHRO at MemorialCare (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Ms. Leahy has been MemorialCare’s senior vice president and CHRO since November 2020. Prior, she spent nearly 19 years at Providence St. Joseph in Orange County, Calif. Before that, she held human resources roles at Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare.
Brion Lieberman. CHRO at Geisinger (Danville, Pa.). Throughout his 16-plus year tenure at Geisinger, Mr. Lieberman has cultivated his human resources skills in a variety of roles. As CHRO, he fosters a people-centered culture of shared values. Under his leadership, the system was named as a “Best-in-State Employer” by Forbes in 2023.
Amy Linsin. Executive Vice President, CHRO and Chief Diversity Officer for Prisma Health (Greenville, S.C.). Ms. Linsin serves as executive vice president, CHRO and chief diversity officer for Prisma Health. In addition, she heads the diversity and inclusion office with the Diversity Action Council. She joined the system in 2018 to lead human resources functions and was promoted to CHRO and chief diversity officer in 2019. Prior, she served as senior regional director of human resources at Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
Nakesha Lopez. Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer at Advocate Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Ms. Lopez is a seasoned human resources leader with over 20 years of experience transforming human resources functions across healthcare and other industries. As the former CHRO at Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White, she led strategic initiatives in human capital planning, talent management, total rewards and DEI, shaping the organization’s culture and workforce strategy. Before transitioning to the healthcare sector, she served as vice president of human resources at Barclays Capital, providing her with a deep understanding of corporate talent management that she now leverages in her leadership approach. Her commitment to community service is reflected in her current role on the board of the Texas Prader-Willi Association.
Jackie Luecht. CHRO for MercyOne (Des Moines, Iowa). Ms. Luecht has served as CHRO for MercyOne since November 2019, bringing extensive expertise in hospital and healthcare workforce management. With a strong background in talent management, employee relations, compensation and benefits design, she plays a critical role in shaping human resources strategy to enhance employee engagement and retention. Under her leadership, MercyOne has strengthened its workforce initiatives, ensuring a supportive and high-performing workplace culture. An accomplished HR executive, Ms. Luecht drives talent development and organizational success in complex healthcare environments.
Michelle Mahaffey. Executive Vice President and CHRO for Community Health Network (Indianapolis). Ms. Mahaffey has served as executive vice president and CHRO at Community Health Network since May 2020, playing a key role in shaping workforce strategy and human resources operations across the system’s 200-plus sites of care. As a member of the network’s executive committee, she helps design and implement strategic initiatives that drive organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. She oversees all aspects of human resources, including talent acquisition, development, DEI, compensation, benefits, payroll and employee wellbeing. With over 25 years of experience, she previously served as CHRO at Simon Property Group and held human resources leadership roles at Cummins and Dell. Committed to community engagement, Ms. Mahaffey also actively serves on multiple nonprofit boards.
Kaleigh A. Maio. Vice President of Human Resources at Heywood Healthcare (Gardner, Mass.). Ms. Maio, vice president of human resources at Heywood Healthcare, has played a critical role during a period marked by post-pandemic recovery and financial restructuring under Chapter 11. Rising through the ranks since joining as an human resources generalist in 2014, she now oversees strategic workforce planning, labor relations, talent management, employee engagement and operational efficiency. Under her guidance, employee engagement scores rose by 6.4% in 2024 and survey participation increased by 7%. She has implemented impactful programs such as an in-house employee assistance program, a leadership development program, and an employee wellness initiative that includes on-site life centers, a giving tree and a clothes closet. Her innovative employee concierge service improves access to care for staff and their families, while her immigration initiative and community partnerships have bolstered workforce diversity.
Jane Maksoud. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Mount Sinai Health System (New York City). Ms. Maksoud is the senior vice president and CHRO for the Mount Sinai Health System. She oversees a broad array of human resources functions, including faculty and employee relations, talent acquisition, talent learning and development, compensation and benefits, workforce analytics, international personnel and recreation. She has redefined talent management through innovative systems like “PEAK”, a learning platform that tracks competency and streamlines staff education. Ms. Maksoud also played a pivotal role in retraining and transitioning over 400 employees at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, with hundreds more projected to benefit. Her initiatives promoting total worker health have improved employee wellbeing and cut labor costs. She is passionate about continuously innovating talent strategies to attract, onboard, develop and retain top clinical and administrative talent in a highly competitive labor market. She has held several clinical and administrative positions in her 30-plus year tenure with the system. Most recently, she was the vice president of human resources and labor relations at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Angie Mannino. Chief Human Resources, Marketing and Communications Officer for Baptist Health (Louisville, Ky.). Ms. Mannino is chief human resources, marketing and communications officer for Baptist Health as of January 2025. She first joined Baptist Health as its chief people and culture officer in 2014. Prior, she was senior vice president for human resources at Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System. She brings over 33 years of business leadership and human resources experience to her current role, where she handles all system human resources efforts, including recruiting, development, compensation, employee experience and more.
Kara Marante. Vice President and Chief People Officer at Nicklaus Children’s Health System (Miami). Ms. Marante leads human resources, organizational development, and patient and family experience for Nicklaus Children’s Health System, supporting a workforce of approximately 4,000 employees. Her leadership cultivates a supportive culture that empowers staff to deliver exceptional care to children and families. Ms. Marante has spearheaded initiatives that promote career development and employee wellbeing, including a robust nursing residency program that has contributed to the system’s leading regional retention rates. Under her direction, Nicklaus Children’s has been consistently recognized as a top workplace, earning the 2024 Forbes “America’s Best Midsize Employer”, 2024 Forbes “Best Employers by State – Florida”, and 2024 Newsweek “Most Loved Workplaces” recognitions.
Lynda Markoe. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for RWJBarnabas Health (West Orange, N.J.). Ms. Markoe was appointed chief people officer at RWJBarnabas Health in February 2024, leading the human resources function for New Jersey’s largest academic health system. She was recruited to spearhead the “One HR” transformation initiative, which entailed working closely with executive leadership to align people processes with the system’s evolving organizational model. With over 30 years of experience in talent management and human resources leadership, she brings a wealth of expertise in navigating complex, multi-location enterprises through periods of change. Before joining RWJBarnabas Health, she served as chief people and culture officer at Bed, Bath & Beyond, where she guided workforce strategy during a time of rapid transformation. Her previous leadership roles at J.Crew and Gap further solidified her ability to drive cultural and organizational excellence. At RWJBarnabas Health, she is instrumental in fostering a culture of kindness and accountability while advancing the system’s strategic workforce goals.
Dave Marks. Vice President of Human Resources at Inova (Falls Church, Va.). Mr. Marks is the vice president of human resources at Inova, where he champions a culture of continuous change and innovation. Under his leadership, Inova has significantly increased workforce diversity and the representation of people of color in leadership roles. Mr. Marks established a system-level inclusion council and spearheaded the development of a comprehensive DEI learning program. He also launched 11 team member resource groups, enhancing visibility and connection among team members, and introduced a bias and discrimination reporting protocol. Mr. Marks revised health insurance coverage to be inclusive of transgender employees and LGBTQ+ families and partnered with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to shape industry best practices. His efforts contributed to Inova achieving its first Healthcare Equity Index ranking.
Kate McCann. Executive Vice President and CHRO of Baptist Health (Jacksonville, Fla.). Ms. McCann oversees all aspects of human resource operations at Baptist Health, a six-hospital enterprise with more than 15,350 team members. Leveraging over 30 years of human resource experience in health care, she has established best practices in executive development, succession planning and leadership-level alignment since joining Baptist Health in 2022. She led the design of standardized compensation models for registered nurses and advanced practice providers, ensuring market consistency and recognition of critical contributions. Ms. McCann is a key force in transforming enterprise business systems, policies and processes to create a more connected, efficient organization and enhance the team member experience. She is the executive sponsor of “Project Core” at Baptist Health, a two-year, all-systems infrastructure redesign across financial, time and attendance, scheduling, supply chain and human resources systems. She and her team led in the establishment of Baptist Health Clinical School, including a 15-week, licensed nurse assistant training program. Under her leadership, Baptist Health has been named a 2025 “Best Places to Work in Information Technology” by Computerworld, one of “America’s Best Employers by State” by Forbes and other accolades. She previously served in leadership at Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System, Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Rochester (N.Y.) General Health System.
Tom McCauley. CHRO for Aspen (Colo.) Valley Hospital. Mr. McCauley has served on the executive team at Aspen Valley Hospital since 2022. In his role as CHRO, he oversees programs that support employee wellbeing, including benefits, employee housing, health and wellness, staff development and culture initiatives. He also leads recruiting, onboarding, employee relations and retention efforts to ensure a strong, engaged workforce. Having spent 23 years at Accenture, including 11 in human resources, and in additional prior leadership roles in large healthcare organizations, Mr. McCauley brings extensive expertise in human resources to Aspen Valley Hospital. His passion for creating a positive employee experience directly enhances patient care in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Adriene McCoy. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables, Fla.). Ms. McCoy serves as senior vice president and chief people officer for Baptist Health South Florida, which comprises over 28,000 employees and 4,500 affiliated physicians. She has oversight over all areas involving talent, including recruitment, retention, management and development, HR operations and more. Ms. McCoy has been with Baptist Health since 2007, when she joined as assistant vice president of human resources. She was promoted to CHRO in 2014.
Linda McHugh. Executive Vice President and Chief Experience and People Officer for Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.). Ms. McHugh serves as chief experience and people officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, overseeing workforce planning, productivity, talent development and team member experience for the system’s 36,000 employees and 7,000 physicians. Under her leadership, the system has implemented strategic workforce initiatives that improved HCAHPS scores, strengthened engagement, and significantly reduced vacancy and turnover rates. She introduced the StandOut platform to enhance real-time leader-employee feedback and championed programs like apprenticeship pipelines and accelerated nursing scholarships to build future workforce capacity. Ms. McHugh has also advanced a comprehensive wellbeing strategy, including the “WE Thrive” program, the “Traveling Wellbeing Spahhh” and the “Circle of Compassion” fund, supporting physical, emotional and financial health. Her leadership in developing robust coaching and leadership pathways has helped elevate internal talent and drive operational excellence. Prior to joining the system, she spent over 30 years at the Cleveland Clinic in senior leadership roles, including CHRO.
Paula Menkosky. CHRO at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn). Ms. Menkosky, Mayo Clinic’s CHRO, leverages nearly 30 years of service in strategic human capital management. She oversees human resources for more than 80,000 employees, aligning workforce initiatives with Mayo Clinic’s mission to cure, connect and transform healthcare. She played a key role in developing the organization’s “Bold. Forward.” people strategy, ensuring human resources initiatives are responsive to evolving needs. Her previous roles include chief administrative officer for Mayo Clinic in Arizona and positions on Mayo’s board of governors and trustees. She also contributes to national human resources leadership through her involvement in the Medical Center Employee Relations Association.
Natasha Milatovich. Senior Vice President and CHRO for AltaMed Health Services (Commerce, Calif.). Ms. Milatovich, senior vice president and CHRO at AltaMed Health Services, is responsible for driving workforce strategy in a complex healthcare environment with 5,500 employees. She oversees workforce planning, employee experience, compliance, human resources technology and leadership development. Ms. Milatovich has transformed AltaMed’s organizational culture, focusing on improving employee morale, retention and recruitment in a highly competitive healthcare labor market. Her accomplishments include facilitating the shift to remote and hybrid work models, championing shared governance programs and increasing employee engagement. She also introduced human resources technology to streamline processes and created a strong talent pipeline through residency programs and career ladders. Additionally, she led the integration of mental health and wellness tools, saving the organization substantial costs while improving employee wellbeing.
Tracie Morris. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Corewell Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Ms. Morris is integral in developing inspirational and innovative people strategies that propel Corewell forward to thrive in a vibrant and inclusive culture. She champions programs related to learning, development, recruitment, retention, culture and wellbeing at the system, which formed in 2022 following the merger of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health. She has 30 years of experience leading culture transformation, human resource automation and inclusion and talent strategies. Ms. Morris previously served as senior vice president and U.S. CHRO and chief inclusion officer for BMO Financial Group, leading a human resources team dedicated to making BMO Financial a great place to work. There, she led a culture overhaul called Ambition 2025, restructured compensation and benefits plans to reduce turnover and established an inclusion strategy called Zero Barriers to Inclusion 2025.
Keisha Mullings-Smith. Vice President and Chief Consumer Experience Officer for UChicago Medicine. Ms. Mullings-Smith serves as the vice president and chief consumer experience officer at UChicago Medicine, overseeing patient and family experience, workforce engagement and national destination programs. With nearly two decades of experience in healthcare operations and strategic planning, she has implemented a five-year consumer experience transformation strategy aimed at enhancing both patient and employee experiences. By aligning patient and family engagement, human resources and employee engagement teams under one division, she has fostered closer collaboration to support the organization’s mission. Ms. Mullings-Smith has also introduced initiatives such as redesigned employee wellness offerings and an employee and family care clinic. Under her leadership, UChicago Medicine earned bronze-level recognition from the American Medical Association as a “Joy in Medicine” health organization and was named one of America’s best employers by state for Illinois by Forbes in 2023.
Traci Nordberg. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Lifepoint Health (Brentwood, Tenn.). Ms. Nordberg joined Lifepoint as its inaugural senior vice president of people services in January 2024. In her current role as senior vice president and chief people officer, she leads the organization’s people strategy and oversees all aspects of the people services function, which serves more than 50,000 employees from coast to coast. Her areas of responsibility and oversight include talent acquisition and management, organizational and people development, total rewards and employee experience. Ms. Nordberg joined Lifepoint from Mass General Brigham in Boston, where she served as senior vice president of human resources and enterprise business excellence. Prior to that, she was the CHRO for Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt Health for nearly a decade and served as vice president and CHRO at Dartmouth University earlier in her career.
Evan Ochs. Senior Vice President of Human Resources for St. Luke’s University Health Network (Bethlehem, Pa.). At St. Luke’s University Health Network, Ms. Ochs serves as the senior vice president of human resources. In this capacity, she oversees the human resources function for a network consisting of over 200 human resources professionals across 15 campuses and more than 300 outpatient locations. Her areas of oversight include organizational development, compensation, talent acquisition, human resources compliance, employee relations, volunteers, and the Employee Resource Center. Ms. Ochs’ leadership has been especially noteworthy since she took on the role at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Without a playbook, she provided clear direction during an uncertain time, building trust with the CEO and leadership team. This approach led to outstanding employee engagement results and the recognition of St. Luke’s as a top workplace by USA Today and Forbes.
Tanja Oquendo. Chief People Officer for Fairview Health Services (Minneapolis). Ms. Oquendo assumed the role of chief people officer at Fairview Health Services in August 2024, bringing extensive human resources leadership experience and a strong track record in employee engagement and workplace culture. She leads efforts to advance Fairview’s culture, diversity, equity, inclusion and organizational growth, driving initiatives that strengthen workforce development. Previously, she has held roles as chief administrative officer, CHRO and system senior vice president of transformation and integration at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, where she championed people-first strategies to enhance quality, safety, customer service and engagement. With Fairview employing 34,000 team members, Ms. Oquendo’s leadership plays a crucial role in navigating workforce challenges while fostering a high-performance, mission-driven culture.
Andrew Ortiz. Senior Vice President of Human Resources and CHRO at Cedars-Sinai Health System (Los Angeles). Mr. Ortiz is responsible for the strategy and implementation of systemwide HR policies and programs at Cedars-Sinai. He has served in his current role since 2016 and led the organization’s cultural transformation in response to Covid-19, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. His areas of expertise include talent management, leadership development, succession planning and labor strategy.
Shelley Parn. CHRO at OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.). Ms. Parn oversees human resources strategy and operational excellence for OSF HealthCare, including employee relations, workforce commitment, total rewards, recruitment and human resources systems. Over nearly four years, she has impacted the system and its 26,000 team members through the introduction of comprehensive wellbeing offerings focused on financial and mental health. She also led the expansion of a continuing education platform, which has attracted over 5,000 employees to pursue course or tuition reimbursement. Additionally, in fiscal year 2024, nursing turnover stabilized, with rates below the state of Illinois’s acute care turnover trends, and voluntary turnover decreased 11%. Ms. Parn implemented a culture partner program to support leaders during and after the employee engagement survey period, resulting in an improved score in fiscal year 2024. She also oversees the recruitment of physicians and advanced practice providers. Her efforts have resulted in the hiring of more than 150 physicians and more than 175 advanced practice providers since the start of 2024. She has also increased focus on international hiring and expanded upon the organization’s apprentice and scholarship programs.
John Petrov. CHRO at UAB Medicine (Birmingham, Ala.). Mr. Petrov serves as UAB Medicine’s CHRO, a position he assumed in January 2024. He oversees human resources functions for the $7 billion organization and its more than 37,000 employees. Most recently, he was senior vice president and CHRO for Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health. He has also held human resources leadership positions at several other healthcare systems, including Guthrie in Sayre, Pa. and CHI Saint Joseph Health in Kentucky.
Lisa Powell. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Potential Officer at MultiCare Health System (Tacoma, Wash.). Ms. Powell became MultiCare Health System’s senior vice president and chief human potential officer in September 2022. Her position supports over 20,000 employees and more than 1,800 staff providers. She has over 20 years of healthcare human resources experience, including 13 years spent at Providence Health and Services in Portland, Ore. as the vice president and CHRO for the Oregon region.
Elizabeth Quinn. Senior Vice President of Administration for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (Chicago). Ms. Quinn, senior vice president of administration at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, leads human resources for a system of more than 36,000 employees and 7,000 physicians across 11 hospitals and more than 200 care sites. Since stepping into the role in 2022, she has spearheaded major workforce initiatives that helped reduce turnover from 22.1% to 13.7% and boost employee engagement scores from 32 to 51.8. Her strategic application of human resources analytics, including a criticality matrix for real-time decision-making, has enhanced productivity and workforce planning across the organization. She has overseen the launch of a wellbeing fund, expanded tuition and internal education programs, and introduced a training pipeline to transition non-clinical employees into patient care roles. Ms. Quinn has also guided the human resources function through successful mergers and workforce integrations, while broadening community hiring efforts. A longtime Northwestern leader, she has held various roles in both human resources and finance, and was elected to the Brookfield Zoo Chicago board of trustees in 2023.
Nina Ramsey. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Henry Ford Health (Detroit). Ms. Ramsey provides strategic leadership and direction for the system’s entire human resources team with an eye toward Henry Ford’s long-term growth and viability. She also oversees major areas including HR shared services, learning and organization development, diversity and inclusion, and employee and labor relations. She has served in her current role for more than six years.
Michelle Rigby. CHRO for ScionHealth (Louisville, Ky.). Since January 2025, Ms. Rigby has served as CHRO of ScionHealth, a national health system encompassing nearly 90 hospitals and approximately 25,000 employees. Promoted from her interim role, she leads a nationwide human resources team responsible for total rewards, benefits, talent acquisition, onboarding and employee relations. With over 25 years of experience in human resources and healthcare compliance, Ms. Rigby brings deep expertise in investigations, enterprise risk and regulatory oversight across hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers and health plans. Since joining ScionHealth in 2023, she has launched a companywide orientation program, helped develop a new benefits structure, and led the harmonization of human resources processes to enhance consistency and compliance. Ms. Rigby has also spearheaded total rewards improvements focused on employee health and wellbeing.
Dawn Rorig. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine. Ms. Rorig joined Stanford Health Care in 2018 and has transformed the system’s approach to talent acquisition and onboarding, compensation and benefits, and employee and labor relations. In addition, she has effectively led the stabilization and streamlining of department operations, resulting in significant improvements in recruitment and employee retention. Before her tenure at Stanford Health Care, she spent nearly 20 years at Charles Schwab, where she held the position of senior vice president for human resources and managed 16,000 global employees.
Andrea Rosler. Vice President of Human Resources for Infirmary Health (Mobile, Ala.). Ms. Rosler is a seasoned human resources executive with over 30 years of leadership across multiple major Alabama health systems. She assumed her current role at Infirmary Health in March 2025. Her career has been marked by strategic human resources leadership, including the integration of over 15 hospitals and the implementation of human resources business partner models that enhance employee engagement and response times. In her prior role as CHRO at Mobile-based USA Health, she led initiatives that significantly improved vacancy rates, most notably reducing them from 19% to 9% post-pandemic. Ms. Rosler has experience in modernizing human resources operations through the adoption of new technologies, including talent management and benefits platforms, and has played a key role in developing compensation and benefits strategies that boost retention.
Lisa Satteson. Executive Vice President and CHRO at Jefferson Health (Philadelphia). Ms. Satteson manages human resources operations at Jefferson’s 32 hospitals, cultivating a positive workplace culture amongst more than 65,000 colleagues. She brings expertise in employee engagement, employee relations, organizational development, performance management, development and training, and much more. She has served in her role since May 2023.
Tammy Saunaitis. CHRO at University of Maryland Medical System (Baltimore). Ms. Saunaitis brought her 20-plus years of experience in healthcare human resources leadership to the University of Maryland Medical System in 2022. Upon joining the system, she launched the system’s HR Transformation, which aims to designate UMMS as a top destination for talent. She handles all human resources functions, inclusive of recruitment, rewards, team member development, engagement and more. Before taking on her current role, she was CHRO for SCL Health, which is now Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare.
Elizabeth Savage. CHRO for Valley Health System (Winchester, Va.). Ms. Savage serves as Valley Health’s CHRO, where she leads human resources strategy for the six-hospital, 75-practice nonprofit health system. With more than 25 years of human resources experience, Ms. Savage focuses on aligning talent acquisition, retention and development strategies with the organization’s mission to improve community health. Since joining Valley Health in 2010, she has driven initiatives that enhance employee engagement, integrate total rewards programs and build workforce resilience, even amid industrywide staffing and technology challenges. Her efforts have directly contributed to increased employee morale, improved patient satisfaction and a stronger organizational culture. Previously, she served as senior vice president of human resources at Bon Secours Charity Health System in New York.
Becky Sawyer. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Sentara Health (Norfolk, Va.). Ms. Sawyer is responsible for HR strategy and execution for more than 30,000 colleagues. She is dedicated to fostering a culture that attracts, retains and engages a diverse, talented workforce for the organization. She also serves on the boards of organizations such as the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Tracey Schiro. Executive Vice President and Chief People and Culture Officer at Ochsner Health (New Orleans). Ms. Schiro provides leadership for the human resources division, guiding areas including talent acquisition, workforce development and employee experience. She joined the organization in 2007 and previously served as the system’s chief risk and human resources officer and chief administrative officer. Under her leadership, Ochsner has led in employee engagement and earned the health system a Best Place to Work recognition from Newsweek in 2023.
William “Bill” Schmiedeknecht. Senior Vice President and CHRO for Brown University Health (Providence, R.I.). Mr. Schmiedeknecht serves as senior vice president and CHRO for Brown University Health, overseeing all aspects of human resources, including talent development, benefits, compensation and employee experience. Before assuming this role, he was the organization’s vice president of human resources, business partnerships and labor relations. His extensive leadership background includes serving as senior vice president of human resources and administration at Bradford Soap Works and as assistant vice chancellor of human resources at UMass Medical School in Worcester, Mass. A former non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, Mr. Schmiedeknecht brings a disciplined, strategic approach to workforce management, ensuring HR initiatives support organizational excellence and employee engagement.
Carolyn Schneider. CHRO at Ardent Health (Brentwood, Tenn.). Ms. Schneider leads a team responsible for the recruitment, retention and development of Ardent’s more than 23,000 employees across seven states. She previously served as CHRO at Brentwood, Tenn.-based Corizon Health. Before that, she led human resources at Capella Healthcare, headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., for more than 10 years.
Rosemary “Rose” Sheehan. Executive Vice President Chief People Officer at Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare. Ms. Sheehan serves as chief people officer at Hartford HealthCare, acting as a strategic advisor to the CEO and leading systemwide efforts to align people, performance and culture with the organization’s mission and goals. In less than a year, she has spearheaded the creation of Hartford HealthCare’s new “People Promise,” a comprehensive commitment to fostering belonging, wellbeing, career growth and equitable total rewards for all colleagues. This initiative builds on more than a decade of cultural development and high reliability organization training, and includes programs such as intentional leadership training, a new career framework, expanded employee assistance services and enhanced benefits with a low deductible plan. Ms. Sheehan oversees a broad portfolio including talent acquisition, compensation, health equity, employee relations, organizational development and colleague engagement. Known for her collaborative and human-centered leadership style, Ms. Sheehan previously served as CHRO at Mass General Brigham in Boston from 2017-23.
Sarah Sherer. Senior Associate Vice President and CHRO at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). Ms. Sherer is the senior associate vice president and CHRO at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of human capital strategies for over 24,000 employees, with a focus on making the institution the workplace of choice for Ohio. Ms. Sherer’s leadership has been instrumental in initiatives like the “Buckeye Experience”, a continuous listening strategy for employee engagement, and efforts to reduce first-year turnover through cultural integration and meaningful dialogue. She also transformed the new team member experience by reimagining orientations and launching the Buckeye Team Center to streamline pre-hire activities. Additionally, she introduced “Buckeye Performance”, a new performance management philosophy. She has also developed career pathways through mentorship programs and partnerships with local schools to educate students about healthcare careers. Her “people-first” approach has led to significant advancements in retention, recruitment and employee engagement.
Christian Sherwood. CHRO for University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics (Salt Lake City). Ms. Sherwood serves as CHRO for University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, where she leads human resources strategy for a rapidly growing system of more than 16,000 care providers. With a focus on compassion and employee wellbeing, she has restructured the human resources department to prioritize employee experiences, creating new divisions addressing culture and accountability, workforce support and analytics, and human resources operations and project management. Her leadership has been instrumental in supporting the health system’s expansion, growing the workforce from under 8,000 to over 16,000 team members while maintaining a people-centered culture. Ms. Sherwood oversees key functions including talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, organizational development and wellness initiatives, representing frontline clinical staff across academic, research and community settings.
Adrienne Sims, PsyD. Senior Vice President and CHRO at IU Health (Indianapolis). Dr. Sims joined IU Health in 2022 and oversees all human resources functions including employee relations, organizational development, diversity and inclusion, shared services, talent acquisition and total rewards. She was recognized as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2024 “Ogletree Deakins Human Resources Professional of the Year” for driving excellence through implementation of best practices, organization design and effectiveness, and strategic direction with measurable results. Her retirement team recently won the “Pensions and Investments Excellence & Innovation Award” under her leadership. Dr. Sims has more than 25 years of human resources leadership experience across multiple industries. Before joining IU Health, she served as vice president of talent management at both OneAmerica Financial and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Previously, at Anthem (now Elevance Health), she provided strategic direction for talent management and organizational effectiveness for 50,000 associates.
Alison Smith, PhD. CHRO for Piedmont Healthcare (Atlanta). Dr. Smith serves as CHRO for Piedmont Healthcare, providing strategic leadership for the human resources function and supporting over 47,000 employees across the system. She has made a significant impact by aligning human resources strategy with organizational priorities and by addressing post-Covid challenges in recruitment, retention and fiscal stewardship. She oversees key areas including talent acquisition, total rewards, DEI, employee experience, learning and development, human resources operations and analytics, while also contributing to major organizational initiatives such as the consolidation of corporate offices. With over 20 years of experience at Publix Supermarkets, where she rose from intern to senior vice president and CHRO, Dr. Smith brings a deep understanding of culture, inclusion and employee engagement to healthcare. In addition, she serves on the board of Piedmont Henry, further extending her leadership impact across the system.
Shaun Smith. Group Senior Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian (New York City). Mr. Smith is responsible for leading all aspects of human resources operations, including talent acquisition, training and organizational development, compensation and benefit services, employee and labor relations, and workforce health and safety services for NewYork-Presbyterian. He first joined the system in 2012 as vice president of human resources at NYP/Weill Cornell, and as NewYork-Presbyterian evolved, he took on the responsibility for providing human resources strategic direction and oversight for the system’s Regional Network Hospitals. He has over 20 years of human resources, legal and healthcare management experience, previously holding roles at New York City-based Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Janet Smith-Hill, MSN, RN. CHRO at SSM Health (St. Louis). Ms. Smith-Hill is responsible for the direction and oversight of SSM Health’s human resources teams, securing the system’s position as a top employer across its four-state network. She is focused on ensuring that SSM achieves exceptional engagement and wellbeing for all employees. She took on her current role in March 2021, after serving in that role on an interim basis beginning in August 2020. She calls upon her more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience to model values-based leadership and foster organizational health.
Tom Snowberger. Chief Administrative Officer for University Hospitals (Cleveland). As chief administrative officer for University Hospitals, Mr. Snowberger strives to build a culture of trust and a sense of belonging among its more than 34,000 caregivers. According to the system’s 2024 caregiver engagement survey, overall caregiver engagement exceeded the industry benchmark. As an employer, University Hospitals strives to provide ongoing learning opportunities and continuous support and offers a wide range of career opportunities for employees to learn, grow and advance. Under Mr. Snowberger’s leadership, the system fosters a workplace where caregivers feel valued for their dedication to delivering world-class care to patients. Forbes recently recognized the system as a great place to work by naming it as one of its “Dream Employers”, making it the only Ohio-based organization in the top 10 and sharing company with brands like Microsoft, Google and Apple.
Dianna Sparacino. Chief People Officer for Endeavor Health (Evanston, Ill.). Ms. Sparacino serves as chief people officer for Endeavor Health, where she leads the strategy for creating an exceptional and inclusive team member experience that enhances care delivery across the system. With a strong focus on empathy, respect and compassion, she champions a culture where every individual feels heard and valued, regardless of role or background. Under her leadership, Endeavor Health has strengthened recruiting pipelines and leadership development programs to support more diverse and connected care teams. She previously served as CHRO for NorthShore University Health System and has held senior human resources roles at other large global brands.
Connie Stefan. Chief People Officer for Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Charleston, S.C.). Ms. Stefan serves as a strategic human resources partner, leading high-impact initiatives in organizational design, change management, workforce planning, and mergers and acquisitions. She collaborates with senior leadership to drive strategies that reduce turnover and shape localized workforce plans. Ms. Stefan has been instrumental in the human resources transformation at Roper St. Francis, launching a new model in December 2023 using modern human resources platforms and technologies, which significantly improved service delivery and led to industry-leading metrics, high engagement, and strong key performance indicators. Her leadership directly contributed to a 34.94% reduction in registered nurse vacancy rates, a 5.42% decrease in turnover, and a 26.56% drop in vacancy rates in 2024. Her strategic vision also helped minimize the use of agency labor, keeping costs well below market averages. She introduced key initiatives to enhance employee experience, including new development courses, a 90% adoption rate of a new performance management system, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. Her leadership has been crucial in maintaining strong employee engagement scores and creating a culture of continuous improvement, directly impacting organizational performance and employee satisfaction.
Inez Stewart. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore). Ms. Stewart has more than 30 years of experience in human resources management, leading a team of human resources professionals who focus on attracting, engaging, developing and retaining a capable workforce. She works collaboratively with the leadership of Johns Hopkins Medicine to create a culture of diversity and inclusion, pathways for employee development and advancement, and programs that invest in employee health and wellness. She also works with the university’s human resource leaders and the health system’s vice presidents of human resources to further the strategic priorities of Johns Hopkins.
Sarah Stumme. Senior Vice President and CHRO for Allina Health (Minneapolis). Ms. Stumme leads Allina Health’s people strategies, ensuring a highly engaged workforce dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As head of human resources, she provides strategic vision for talent acquisition, development and retention to support organizational success. Since joining Allina Health in 2013, she has played a key role in optimizing human resources functions to align with business objectives. Her prior leadership experience spans multiple industries, including roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minn.-based HealthEast Care System, and BAE Systems. Additionally, Ms. Stumme serves on the board of Project for Pride in Living and is an active member of American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration.
Toby Sutton. CHRO for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (Tacoma, Wash.). As CHRO for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Mr. Sutton holds strategic and operational responsibility for all human resources functions across the Northwest Region. He brings extensive leadership experience, having previously served as CHRO for Providence in Southeast Washington and spending 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard in various personnel leadership roles. His background in both military and healthcare human resources equips him with a strong foundation in workforce strategy, talent development and organizational leadership. He currently plays a key role in advancing human resources initiatives that support employee engagement and operational excellence across the health system.
Susi Takeuchi. CHRO for UCLA Health (Los Angeles). Ms. Takeuchi brings 30-plus years of human resources experience to her current role as CHRO for UCLA Health. She has held the role since 2015 and is tasked with leading all human resources functions and programs for the system. Before joining UCLA Health, she was CHRO for UC Irvine (Calif.) Health for nearly three years.
Pam Teufel. Senior Vice President and CHRO for Main Line Health (Radnor, Pa.). Ms. Teufel, senior vice president and CHRO at Main Line Health, oversees all human resources functions for the five-hospital system in suburban Philadelphia. She is spearheading a multi-year transformation of the human resources department, restructuring its framework, upgrading IT infrastructure and refining governance. Simultaneously, she is driving initiatives to enhance employee engagement across all levels of the organization. Her strategic leadership ensures human resources operations align with the system’s long-term goals while fostering a more connected and motivated workforce. Through her efforts, Main Line Health is strengthening its human resources capabilities to better support both employees and patient care.
Jovita Thomas-Williams. CHRO at Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Ms. Thomas-Williams has served as CHRO for Michigan Medicine since March 2024. Before coming to the system, she was senior vice president of human resources for Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts General Physicians in Boston, a role that she held for nearly five years. She has also served as vice president of human resources for Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital and as vice president and CHRO for The University of Toledo (Ohio) and UT Medical Center. In her current role, she leverages experience gleaned from decades of experience across various industries, including healthcare, higher education, consumer products, manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment.
Greg Till. Chief People Officer at Providence Health (Renton, Wash.). Mr. Till oversees all aspects of human resources, including predicting and shaping labor needs, workforce development, utilization and retention, caregiver experience and organizational culture for Providence. Previously, he held several human resources leadership roles at Raytheon Company, where he eventually served as chief talent officer. He also worked as a consultant at Arthur Andersen and an instructor at Purdue and Vincennes Universities.
Jackie Tischler. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at BJC HealthCare (St. Louis). Ms. Tischler provides strategic and operational leadership in the development and delivery of human resources initiatives across the health system. As chief people officer, she helps create a diverse and inclusive environment supportive of BJC’s mission. She previously served as senior vice president of human resource operations at Dallas-based Baylor Scott and White Health.
Joline Treanor. System CHRO for City of Hope (Duarte, Calif.). Ms. Treanor, system CHRO, focuses on driving a culture of performance excellence and continuous improvement at City of Hope. She played a pivotal role in the system’s expansion, including the acquisition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America in 2022, which extended the organization’s reach nationally. Ms. Treanor’s leadership has fostered an environment of exceptional employee engagement, resulting in record high scores in City of Hope’s Press Ganey engagement survey in 2024. Her efforts have contributed to City of Hope being recognized as one of the top cancer hospitals in the U.S. and a top employer in healthcare, with strong employee satisfaction across various categories. Through her strategic people and talent strategies, Ms. Treanor has helped ensure the retention, development and recruitment of top-tier talent, furthering City of Hope’s mission to provide world-class cancer treatment and research.
Lynn Turner. Former Senior Vice President and CHRO for Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). Ms. Turner served as senior vice president and CHRO for Lehigh Valley Health Network. Her role entailed crafting and deploying human resources strategies in close partnership with the system’s executive team. Ultimately, her goal was to ensure LVHN’s status as the top employer in the region. Her responsibilities included HR policy development, talent management, compensation, recruitment, workforce development and experience, and much more. Ms. Turner held this position for over seven years and retired from the system at the end of 2023.
Melissa Turner. Senior Vice President and CHRO at Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health System. Ms. Turner has experience in human resources and talent acquisition across various parts of the Yale New Haven Health system. She has served in her current role since 2021, and first joined Yale New Haven Health’s Greenwich Hospital in 2007 as director of human resources. She previously served as vice president of human resources for Yale New Haven Hospital and vice president of talent acquisition for the health system.
Shibu Varghese. Senior Vice President for People, Culture and Infrastructure at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). Mr. Varghese serves as CHRO for over 27,000 employees at MD Anderson. His strategic leadership is characterized by a holistic approach centered on people, fostering interconnectedness, authenticity and resilience throughout the institution. Under his leadership, MD Anderson has experienced measurable excellence in talent acquisition, employee engagement and retention. Mr. Varghese’s visionary leadership is exemplified by the remarkable engagement levels within the institution’s employee networks. MD Anderson’s last institutionwide engagement survey found engagement rates were in the 93rd percentile, exceeding other best-in-class organizations around the nation. Among important initiatives Mr. Varghese has championed is MD Anderson’s Leadership Institute, which takes a comprehensive approach to developing current leaders and creating talent pathways for the institution. He has also paved the way for a future wellness institute aimed at fostering an environment that enhances engagement, psychological safety and professional fulfillment.
Ekta Vyas, PhD. CHRO for Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles). Dr. Vyas is the CHRO at Keck Medicine of USC, where she leads systemwide human resources strategy, workforce integration and organizational transformation. With a doctorate in organization and management, she combines scholarship with impactful leadership. She spearheaded the integration of over 1,500 employees during the acquisition of USC Arcadia Hospital. In addition, she launched a new human resources operating model, including a centralized human resources business center and a leadership development program called “Leading at Keck.” Her team’s communication efforts earned several Public Relations Society of America awards. She has contributed thought leadership via a TEDx talk and multiple national speaking engagements. Prior to joining Keck Medicine of USC, Dr. Vyas held leadership roles at UC Davis (Calif.) Health and Stanford (Calif.) Health Care.
Loretta Young Walker. Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.). Ms. Walker oversees all human resources activities for 32,000 associates across MedStar’s 10 hospitals, outpatient care locations and diversified operations. She implements HR strategies for the entire spectrum of the system, respecting both organizational growth and operational efficiencies. She has more than 30 years of experience, having previously worked in the HR departments of companies including W.W. Grainger and Turner Broadcasting System.
DeLinda Washington. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for HealthPartners (Bloomington, Minn.). Ms. Washington is senior vice president and chief people officer for HealthPartners, a role in which she directs human resources and reinforces culture organization wide. Before coming to HealthPartners, she most recently held several human resources leadership positions at Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente. She has over 28 years of cumulative human resources experience.
Kimberly Webb. Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at CHRISTUS Health (Irving, Texas). In her role, Ms. Webb partners with operational leaders and other stakeholders to align, develop, communicate and execute an efficient and effective people strategy. She has served in her current role for more than four years and has been with CHRISTUS since 2013. She previously practiced law, focusing on labor and employment litigation.
LoAn Weger. CHRO for Panoramic Health (Tempe, Ariz.). Ms. Weger, CHRO at Panoramic Health, leads key functions including total rewards, human resources business partnering, talent management and talent development. She has been instrumental in aligning human resources strategies with business goals, ensuring competitive compensation structures, optimizing workforce planning and fostering leadership pipelines. Her commitment to professional growth is evident in the implementation of leadership development programs and a culture of continuous learning. Known for her collaborative and people-first approach, she builds strong relationships across all levels of the organization, ensuring employees feel engaged and valued. Her leadership is characterized by a deep investment in developing future leaders. Rising from human resources director to CHRO, she has continually championed a people-centric culture that enhances both employee satisfaction and organizational performance.
Lisa Whaley. Senior Vice President and CHRO for LifeBridge Health (Baltimore). Ms. Whaley oversees more than 14,000 team members at LifeBridge Health, a $2 billion health system that includes multiple acute care hospitals and corporate support functions. Through data-driven workforce strategies, she cut first-year turnover from 43% to 32%, saving $25 million, and reduced human resources redundancies to achieve $8 million in cost savings. Her leadership in human resources information systems consolidation streamlined job classifications by 75%, improving workforce reporting accuracy. Additionally, she maintained flat health claims costs and third-party fees for three consecutive years while eliminating contract labor to save $5 million. Under her guidance, voluntary turnover dropped by 50%, strengthening retention and operational efficiency. Previously, she held executive human resources roles at Tenet Healthcare in Dallas and Vanguard Health System in Nashville, Tenn.
Sagan Wheeler. CHRO for Ivinson Memorial Hospital (Laramie, Wyo.). Ms. Wheeler serves as the CHRO at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, overseeing human resources, clinical education, employee health, guest relations, marketing, culture, workforce strategy, community impact and more. Since joining the hospital in 2016, she has played a pivotal role in workforce development, physician recruitment and strategic growth, ensuring employees feel valued and engaged. Before taking on her current executive role, she previously served as marketing director and senior director of partner services, where she enhanced communication strategies and expanded departmental oversight. With an educational background in both healthcare administration and mental health counseling, along with communications, she brings a multifaceted approach to leadership. A committed community advocate, she serves on the boards of the United Way of Albany County and the Community Service Block Grant.
Tod Wiesman. CHRO for UMass Memorial Health (Worcester, Mass.). Mr. Wiesman serves as senior vice president and CHRO at UMass Memorial Health, overseeing systemwide human resources functions including workforce development, talent acquisition, compensation, labor relations and strategy. He has launched programs to improve caregiver experience and strengthen recruitment, notably implementing the award-winning “We Hire You” campaign and building a sourcing team that filled 80% of roles for a new care facility on time and within budget. Mr. Wiesman redesigned the talent acquisition process to enable 24–48 hour applicant response times and 24-hour manager evaluations, dramatically improving hiring efficiency. He also spearheaded a systemwide Workday implementation that replaced more than 40 outdated platforms, streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery. Under his leadership, UMass Memorial introduced impactful benefits like student loan repayment, while sustaining high engagement through a monthly workplace respect survey and its frontline-driven “idea system,” with over 200,000 employee ideas implemented.
Dawn Wright. CHRO for LCMC Health (New Orleans). Ms. Wright serves as the CHRO at LCMC Health, where she has led initiatives to enhance human resources delivery, improve benefit offerings and align compensation strategies with a changing workforce. In just over six months, Ms. Wright streamlined HR processes, improved efficiency and boosted employee satisfaction. Her leadership in revamping LCMC Health’s benefit packages has helped attract top talent and retain valuable employees. Additionally, Ms. Wright has developed compensation plans that promote equity and transparency while supporting organizational goals.
Tom Wright. Executive Vice President and CHRO of Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.). Mr. Wright serves as executive vice president and CHRO at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where he has led significant initiatives to enhance culture, engagement and wellbeing across the organization. Under his leadership, the hospital launched “culture unfreezing” retreats, aiming to reach all 8,500 team members within two years and reinforce a sense of meaning and purpose in their work. He also played a central role in launching the Children’s Mercy Berry Institute, which contributed to a substantial increase in employee engagement, rising from 48% to 63% in its first year. Recognizing the national burnout crisis among pediatricians and nurses, Mr. Wright has prioritized staff wellbeing and successfully reduced voluntary nursing turnover to 8.7%, well below the national average of 22.5%. His efforts have resulted in national recognition, including 2025 Newsweek awards recognizing the organization as a great workplace for diversity and for women, as well as a spot on the 2024 Forbes “Best-In-State Employer” list for Missouri.
Margie Jones Zyble. CHRO for UC Health (Cincinnati). Ms. Zyble is CHRO at UC Health, where she is leading a transformative cultural shift to advance clinical care, research and education at the system. With more than 25 years of human resources experience across diverse industries, she has brought a fresh, data-driven perspective to her role, focusing on workforce engagement, leadership enablement and operational excellence. Under her leadership, UC Health has improved recruitment, compensation and benefits strategies to remain competitive in one of the nation’s most demanding healthcare markets. Ms. Zyble has also restructured the human resources function to better support leaders and employees systemwide, fostering transparency and cultivating a culture rooted in feedback and collaboration. Working closely with the CEO, she has driven executive transformation while reinforcing UC Health’s identity as Cincinnati’s only adult academic health system. Beyond her organizational impact, she is an active community leader, serving as a representative for Mason-Deerfield Prosperity Partners and as a member of the University of Cincinnati human resources advisory board. She also speaks at key industry events, including the 2024 Cincinnati Chamber Diversity Leadership Symposium.