MED MOVES: Southwestern Health Resources names new leader, and more

Jim Beiermann

Southwestern Health Resources selects top executive

Jim Beiermann has been named senior executive officer of Southwestern Health Resources, based in Dallas, Texas.

Beiermann has been serving as Southwestern’s chief financial officer for the past two years. In his new role, Beiermann will lead the organization’s efforts in population health management, the system said in a news release.

Southwestern operates 29 hospitals across northern Texas. The system credits Beiermann with improving business operations with strong cost management and strategic planning. His appointment was announced Dec. 21.

“SWHR is not only shifting mindsets from fee-for-service to value-based care but also succeeding in implementation,” Beiermann said in a news release.

“To improve clinical performance, our network physicians leverage the resources SWHR provides — data, analytics, and innovative utilization and care management strategies," he said. "Our high benchmarks in quality and cost savings demonstrate our commitment to patients, providers, employers and payors. We are all in this together and I’m honored to help lead the charge.”

Before joining Southwestern, he previously held positions at Wellpoint Anthem, Conifer Health Solutions and Molina Healthcare.

“Jim has been an excellent steward of our financial resources, supported innovation in the quality care for our patients and will continue to focus on expanding our network to serve North Texas,” Daniel K. Podolsky, president of UT Southwestern Medical Center, said in the news release.

Jason Sanders

University of Vermont Health Network names new leader

Jason Sanders has been appointed president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group.

It’s one of three leadership roles Sanders will be taking. He will also be serving as the health network's executive vice president for clinical affairs and senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the UVM Larner College of Medicine.

He’ll begin his work at UVM in February, the system said in a news release. Sanders succeeds Claude Deschamps, who stepped down at the end of September 2021.

Sanders has been senior vice president and provost at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center since 2015.

“I'm excited to join UVM Health Network at a critical time in its evolution," Sanders said in a news release. “This network is a national example of how a health system can work collaboratively with a multi-specialty medical group to improve the care experience and achieve better patient outcomes. I look forward to drawing on my experience to help further unify the Network.

“I'm also eager to help define what value-based care looks like in rural and community settings, as well as promote the unique abilities of an academic health system to bring innovative care to patients and educate the future clinical workforce."

The University of Vermont Health Network is an academic health system operating six hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group, and a home health agency.

Frank Morgan

HCA names new VP of investor relations

HCA Healthcare Inc. announced Frank Morgan is the company’s new vice president of investor relations.

The move, announced Dec. 22, became effective January 1.

Morgan had been serving as managing director of healthcare services research for RBC Capital Markets. He has covered the healthcare industry as a financial analyst for more than 30 years. Morgan succeeds Mark Kimbrough, who is retiring in March after working with HCA Healthcare for nearly 40 years.

“Frank is well known and well respected by the investment community, having covered the facility-based healthcare services sector for many years,” Bill Rutherford, HCA Healthcare’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in a news release.

Morgan joined RBC Capital Markets in 2008. He previously served as managing director and senior analyst at Jefferies and Company from 2000 to 2008. He also served as a partner and senior analyst at J.C. Bradford from 1995 to 2000.

HCA Healthcare operates 183 hospitals and nearly 2,000 ambulatory sites across the United States and in the United Kingdom.

Vanessa Benavides

Kaiser Permanente names chief legal officer

Vanessa Benavides has been named senior vice president and chief legal officer for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente announced late last month.

Benavides assumed her new role on Dec. 26. She’ll oversee all legal, compliance and regulatory duties. She will report to Greg Adams, the chairman and CEO.

She succeeds Mark Zemelman, who is retiring from his role as senior vice president and general counsel. He had worked with Kaiser Permanente for 30 years.

Benavides joined Kaiser Permanente in 2015 as senior vice president and chief compliance and privacy officer. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Benavides served as chief compliance officer for Tenet Healthcare. She spent 10 years at Tenet, also serving as senior regulatory counsel. Before joining Tenet, she served as legal counsel for Caremark Rx, a pharmacy benefit management company.

She is a member of the board of directors of the CDC Foundation and The Trevor Project, a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

Kaiser Permanente operates 39 hospitals and the system serves 12.5 million members. The system has over 200,000 employees.

Michael Riordan

Premier Health in Dayton selects new CEO

Michael Riordan has been named the new president and CEO of Premier Health in Ohio.

Riordan earns the distinction of being the first external candidate to be selected to lead Premier Health since its formation in 1995. He will take the job effective Jan. 31, 2022. Premier made the announcement Dec. 21.

Premier said Riordan was chosen among dozens of candidates after a national search. He will succeed Mary Boosalis, who has been the health system’s president and CEO for the past five years. She will serve in an advisory role through the end of March.

“Premier Health is clearly an organization committed to meeting the rapidly evolving health care needs of Southwest Ohio," Riordan said in a statement. "I am honored to be selected to lead the organization and look forward to working with the board, medical staff, and employees in advancing the health system’s mission to build healthier communities. My family and I are eager to be a part of this community.”

Premier cited Riodan’s nearly two decades in CEO leadership positions at other health systems, including the University of Chicago Medical Center and Greenville Health System/Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina.

Trevor Wright

Loma Linda University Health names new CEO

Trevor Wright has been named the new CEO of Loma Linda University Health Hospitals.

Wright has served as chief operating officer of the system for nearly seven years. Loma Linda University Health operates six hospitals. Wright previously served as senior vice president and administrator of Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Loma Linda University Health pointed to Wright’s business acumen, his knowledge of the system and his keen understanding of the challenges in healthcare locally and nationally.

Richard Hart, president of Loma Linda University Health, praised Wright’s contributions to the system.

“Trevor is a key member of our leadership team and has had significant responsibilities for the accomplishments the hospitals have made over the past six years,” Hart said in a statement. “Loma Linda University Health will benefit greatly from his mission-driven leadership as we continue growing the many ways we serve our community and deliver healthcare in our region.”

Wright possesses more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Wright previously served at Provident Health and Services and Advent Health Shawnee Mission.