Sutter Health appoints new chief digital officer, and more | MED MOVES

Laura Wilt has been named the senior vice president and chief digital officer of Sutter Health.

Laura Wilt

Wilt will oversee all aspects of a unified digital strategy for the system, which serves 3.4 million patients.

She comes to Sutter Health after spending 10 years at Louisiana-based Ochsner Health, where she was most recently system vice president, chief information officer.

“I’m excited to join Sutter Health to integrate and maximize the use of digital technologies in transforming healthcare for millions of patients and clinicians,” Wilt said in a statement. “Technology should help us improve the patient experience and ease physician and care team workloads. We must take a people-centered approach and constantly innovate to improve access for our patients as well as streamline how our clinicians deliver personalized care.”

Wilt has plenty of experience working with Sutter Warner CEO Warner Thomas, who is also the former chief executive officer of Ochsner Health.

“We are excited about our digital future, and this new role will accelerate Sutter Health’s digital innovation and initiatives aimed at delivering a connected, convenient and high-quality patient experience,” Thomas said in a statement.  “Laura Wilt is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of implementing award-winning digital strategies within complex health systems.

Prior to Ochsner, Wilt was president of Intellistar Consulting for nearly three years. She also worked with Epic Systems’ implementation services team.

Lori Price

Francisan Health hires president of Central Indiana market

Lori Price has been appointed president and CEO for Franciscan Health Central Indiana.

She succeeds James Callaghan, who was named senior vice president and chief operating officer for Franciscan Alliance earlier this year. Price had served as Franciscan's vice president of quality and patient safety since 2021.

Price now leads a workforce of nearly 4,200 healthcare workers and support staff at Franciscan Health Indianapolis, Franciscan Health Mooresville, Franciscan Health Orthopedic Hospital Carmel and Franciscan Health Carmel.

Price has provided clinical care as a nurse and held a number of leadership positions.

Before joining Franciscan Health, she was chief operating office for Metro Health-University of Michigan. She assumed that role after serving seven years as president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, which is part of the Loyola University Health System and Trinity Health.  In addition to the role as president she also served as the regional CNO and regional leader for quality, risk and support services for Loyola University Health System.

Franciscan Health operates 12 hospitals serving in Indiana and Illinois.

Nancy M. DiLiegro

RWJBarnabas Health names CEO of NJ hospital

Nancy M. DiLiegro has been named president and CEO of Trinitas Regional Medical Center, a part of RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey.

She will begin serving in the new role on April 15, 2023.

DiLiegro currently serves as the hospital’s chief clinical officer, vice president of clinical operations and physician services. She will succeed Gary Horan, who retires next month after more than 21 years as the hospital’s leader.

“We can think of no better leader for Trinitas Regional Medical Center than Nancy DiLiegro,” Mark E. Manigan, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, said in a statement.

DiLiegro joined Trinitas in April 2002. Previously, she held management positions at Lenox Hill Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center and Our Lady of Mercy Healthcare System.

“I am truly honored and humbled to have been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of this wonderful organization,” DiLiegro said in a statement. “I look forward to working with all members of the RWJBarnabas Health family, in particular those based at Trinitas, as we enter a new era of healthcare delivery for our region.”

Lori Herndon

AtlantiCare CEO announces plans to retire

Lori Herndon, president and CEO of AtlantiCare in New Jersey, has announced her plans to retire.

Herndon has spent 40 years with the organization in a career that began as a critical care nurse. She has served as CEO since 2016.

As the board looks for a new chief executive, Herndon plans to transition her CEO responsibilities on May 31. She will work with the system’s board and leadership team to support the transition until her retirement on June 30.

In a message to staff, Herndon said she “enjoyed every opportunity to learn and grow over 40 years at AtlantiCare.”

“I care deeply about our AtlantiCare team, our patients and our community. Our impact on the community and our patients we serve has been immeasurable and I will always be proud of working with our AtlantiCare team through some of healthcare’s most challenging times,” she said.

Herndon recently served as president of the New Jersey Hospital Association.

Board Chair David Goddard said Herndon’s impact and leadership “has been far-reaching.”

David Bunch

West Virginia hospital hires new CEO

David Bunch has been named the new chief executive officer of Raleigh General Hospital.

He will begin in the new role on April 3. A part of LifePoint Health, Raleigh General Hospital serves the city of Beckley in southern West Virginia.

Bunch has been serving as president and chief administrative officer at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville, Tennessee, part of Covenant Health, since 2016.

Bunch replaces former interim CEO Anthony Young.  Rhonda Mann, current chief operating officer at Raleigh General, will serve as interim CEO until April 2.

“I am elated to be joining the Raleigh General team and eager to get started in this new role,” Bunch said in a statement. “With the help of our hospital team, medical staff, providers, board, and community, I look forward to the exciting opportunities we have to grow Raleigh General and further expand its impact across Raleigh County and beyond.”

Before leading Cumberland Medical Center, Bunch held a number of leadership posts, including CEO of Heritage Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee; Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City, Tennessee; and Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill, West Virginia – all a part of Community Health Systems (CHS).

Raymond A. Gensinger

Tegria appoints new chief medical officer

Raymond A. Gensinger, Jr. has been appointed senior vice president and chief medical officer of Tegria, a healthcare consulting and technology services company.

Gensinger will take a leadership role in Tegria’s work with providers and payers.

“I firmly believe that effective use of technology will bring optimized healthcare services to the greatest number of people possible,” Gensinger said in a statement. “At Tegria, I’ll have the opportunity to work with leading healthcare organizations across the country and beyond, ultimately helping more people than I ever could as a physician or CIO.”

Gensinger most recently served as CIO for Hospital Sisters Health System, which serves Illinois and Wisconsin. Previously, he was the chief medical information officer at Fairview Health Services and at Hennepin County Medical Center.

“Ray’s deep experience and perspective as a physician leader and CIO are vital to Tegria’s efforts to improve healthcare,” Brian Cahill, chief executive officer of Tegria, said in a statement.