Hospital Leadership Shifts: A Comprehensive Review of ‌Recent Executive Appointments ​(January⁤ 2026)

Teh healthcare landscape began 2026 with significant movement in executive leadership positions across hospitals and health systems nationwide. As of January 9, 2026, Becker’s Hospital Review ‍ has tracked an remarkable ‌125 leadership changes since⁢ December 19, 2025, with 75 of ‌those occurring in the new year‌ alone. This article provides a detailed overview of these ⁤appointments,offering insights into the evolving leadership‍ within the industry.

Recent Executive Appointments (January⁣ 3-9, 2026)

This section details the leadership changes announced⁢ between January 3rd and 9th, 2026, providing a snapshot⁣ of ‌the dynamic ​shifts occurring ‍within healthcare organizations.

• Eric Liston – Intermountain Health (Salt Lake City, Utah): Appointed as ⁣Regional President for the Canyons Region. [1]
• Craig Connors ‌– Valley Health (Winchester, Virginia): Named Vice President of Revenue Cycle and Payer relations. [2]
• Steven​ Luther – Marshall County Hospital (Benton, Kentucky): Appointed as CEO. [3]
• Wendy Fielding – Dartmouth Health (Lebanon, New Hampshire): ​Appointed as CFO. [4]
• Donna Roach – University of Utah Health (Salt Lake City, Utah): ⁣Added the title of System Chief Digital Facts officer to her role as ‌CIO. [5]
• Ben‌ Brown – Dominion‍ Hospital (Falls Church, Virginia): ⁤Succeeds Nanette​ Logan, DNP, as CEO. ⁢Logan previously exited the role after nine ⁣months. [6]
• David ⁣Wylie – Memorial Satilla‍ Health (Waycross,​ Georgia): Appointed as​ CFO. [7]
• Sabrina Kidd, MD – Centerpoint Medical Center (Independence, Missouri): Appointed as Chief Medical Officer. [8]
• Grace ‌Taylor – UCHealth Greeley (Colorado): ⁤Appointed as President. [9]
• Brett Spenst ‌– AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, ‌Florida): Named Senior Executive Officer for the Rocky Mountain Region. [10]
• David Weis – AdventHealth (Rocky Mountain Region): Named⁤ President and CEO. [11]
• Susan Brooks, BSN, ⁢RN⁢ – Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (New York): Named Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. [12]
• Allison Schuler, MSN – Baptist ‌Memorial Hospital-Attala (Kosciusko, Mississippi): ⁢Appointed ⁣as CEO and Chief Nursing Officer. [13]
• Robert⁣ Cavagnol, MD – Carle Health (Bloomington-Normal Service ‍Area): Appointed as President.[14]
• Neva Spencer, DNP, RN ‌– HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital (Fort Pierce): Named Chief Nursing Officer.[15]
• Adam Thacker – Good Samaritan⁤ (Vincennes,​ Indiana): Appointed ‍as CEO. [16]
• Amanda de los reyes ⁤– Renown Health⁤ (Reno, Nevada): Named Vice ​President ⁣of Revenue Cycle. [17]
• Aaron Martin – Medical City Plano & Medical city Sachse (Texas): Appointed as CFO. ⁤ [18]
• Nina Pacheco ​– NorthBay Health ‌(Fairfield, California): Appointed as Vice President and System Compliance Officer. [19]
• Jason Pilant‌ – ‍Cumberland Medical Center ‍(Crossville, Tennessee): Appointed as President and​ Chief administrative Officer. [20]
• Kim Baugh –⁤ Share Medical⁣ Center (Alva, Oklahoma): ‍ Named CFO. [21]
• Peter Ostasewski – GBMC HealthCare (Towson, ⁢Maryland): Named Executive ⁤Vice President and CFO. [22]
• Samantha⁤ Crandall, PhD, RN –​ GBMC HealthCare (Maryland): Named Senior Vice President of Quality and Patient ​Safety. [23]
• Aaron Kuehn​ – Scott County⁤ Health System (Scott City, ​Kansas): Named CFO. [24]
• Chirag ⁤choudhary, MD – Cleveland Clinic Martin Health (Florida): ⁢Named Vice President‌ and Chief Medical Officer.[25]
• Chip⁤ Hubbs – Memorial Health (Marysville, Ohio): Announced plans ⁢to retire in January 2027. [26]
• Peter Hull – Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston): Named enterprisewide Chief ⁣Communications and⁢ Marketing Officer. [27]
• Tommy Ibrahim, MD –⁣ Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, South​ Dakota): Named Executive Vice President and ⁢Chief Change Officer. [28]
• Susan Sauder – Providence Southern⁤ Oregon service Area (Medford, Oregon): Named​ Chief Executive. [29]
• Autumn McFann – firsthealth of the Carolinas ⁤(Pinehurst,North carolina): ⁤ Named‌ CFO. [30]
• Christian Pass – Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles): Named CFO. [31]
• Marcee Chmait – City of Hope (Duarte,California): Appointed Head of Emerging Opportunities and Ventures. [32]
• carolyn Jackson – Kent Hospital (Warwick, Rhode Island): Named President⁣ and COO. [33]
• Mike Yost – Indiana University health (Indianapolis): Retired as chief Marketing Officer. [34]
• Kelli Ferry – Novant Health (Winston-Salem, North Carolina): Appointed Executive Vice ‌President and Chief Legal Officer. [35]
• Rebekah Artman, BSN, RN –⁤ Harris Regional Hospital & Swain Community Hospital (North ​Carolina): Appointed Chief Nursing Officer. [36]
• Jonathan‌ Kyriacou – Jersey City Medical‍ Center (New⁤ Jersey): ⁣ Named President and CEO. [37]
• Amanda Vick,BSN – SageWest Health Care (Lander,Wyoming): Appointed as CEO. [38]
• Michele Williams, MD – Methodist Fremont Health (Nebraska): Named chief Medical ‌Officer. [39]
• Doug Zehner – Hudson regional Health ⁤(Secaucus, New‍ Jersey): Appointed Executive vice President and System CFO. [40]
• Rick Lyman – Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston): Retired ‌as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Revenue Cycle Management. [41]
• Tori ⁢Bowers – Memorial Health System (Abilene, Kansas): Appointed CFO. [42]
• Michele ‍Hasselblad, DNP, RN – Vanderbilt University Hospital (Nashville, Tennessee): Appointed ⁢Chief⁤ Nursing Officer. [43]
• Nelson So –‍ Wellstar Columbia County Medical ​Center (Augusta, Georgia): Named COO.[44]
• Susan Collins – ⁤Geisinger Ventures (Danville, Pennsylvania): ‌ Named⁣ Vice ⁣president. ‌ [45]
• Ellie Michael ⁣–​ Ascension​ Saint Thomas hospital West (Nashville, Tennessee): Appointed COO. [46]
• E. Misa Ewing, DNP, RN – Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West⁢ (Nashville, Tennessee): Named Chief Nursing Officer. [47]
• Eric Paul – Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital (McMinnville, Tennessee): Appointed ​President. [48]
• Eric Greenfield, DO⁤ – Ascension Saint Thomas ⁢Rutherford (Murfreesboro, Tennessee): Appointed Chief Medical Officer.⁣ [49]
• Joshua Ramsey, MD ⁤– ‌Ascension Saint Thomas (Nashville, Tennessee): Appointed Chief Medical Officer for East regional Hospitals. [50]
• Doug Hoban – Eureka Springs Hospital (Arkansas): Named Interim‌ CFO. [51]
• Benny Stover – TidalHealth (Salisbury,‌ Maryland): Named Senior Vice President of Finance ⁢and CFO. [52]
• Rich Rogers – Prisma Health (greenville, South carolina): Retired as Senior Vice President and CIO. [53]
• Craig McGhee –⁤ Shriners Children’s (Tampa, Florida): Appointed ‍Regional Administrator for the West Region. [54]
• Raju iyer – El Camino health (Mountain View,California): Named CFO. ‍ [55]
• Terence French – Main Line Health (Radnor, Pennsylvania): Named Senior Vice President and⁢ Chief Strategy Officer. [56]
• Stephen Leffler, ‌MD – University of Vermont Health (Burlington): Named CEO. [57]
• Megan Powe – HCA ⁣Florida JFK Hospital (Atlantis): Appointed COO. [58]
• Terrence Wooten – Saint Joseph Hospital (lexington, kentucky): Named President.[59]
• Oscar Lahoud,MD – NYU langone hospital-Brooklyn: ⁢Named Chief⁢ Medical Officer.[60]
• Julie⁤ Smith ‌–‍ Trinity Health (Livonia, michigan): Appointed Service Area‍ CFO. [61]
• Chris Spady – Erlanger health System (Chattanooga, Tennessee): Named Senior ⁣Vice President of Revenue Cycle. [62]
• Chris Lewis – Saint mary of Nazareth Hospital​ & ​Saint Francis Hospital (Illinois): Role expanded to Regional CFO. [63]
• Brian Day – Mercy (St. Louis): Named⁣ CFO. [64]

Executive Changes‍ from January 1-2, 2026

The beginning ⁣of the year also saw a flurry of leadership transitions:

• Dave Cole – Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota): Stepping down as ⁤Vice Chair of the Center for Digital⁢ Health. [1]
• Ebony Boulware, MD – Advocate Health (Charlotte, North Carolina): Stepped‍ into the​ role⁢ of​ Chief Academic⁣ Officer.[2]
• Michele Williams, MD – Methodist ⁣Fremont Health (Nebraska): Appointed Chief Medical Officer. [3]
• Anthony Sunzeri ‍– Florida Medical ⁣Center ⁢(Fort⁢ Lauderdale): Named CFO. [4]
• Tom Hammerton – OSF healthcare (Peoria, Illinois): Announced plans to retire as President of the OSF healthcare Foundation and Chief Progress Officer. [5]
• Jason Plamondon, ⁤MSN, RN – ‌Providence​ Seaside Hospital (Oregon): Appointed Chief Administrative Officer. [6]
• Tommy Ibrahim, ‌MD – Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, ​South Dakota): ​ Named Executive Vice President and ⁢Chief Transformation Officer. [7]
• Mir Wasif Ali, MD – Dignity Health – St. Bernardine Medical Center (San Bernardino, ​California): Elected Chief​ of Staff.[8]
• Tamar Goldblatt ​– Ascension (St. Louis): Named Vice President of Payer ‍Revenue Strategy and contracting.[9]
• Whitney Staub-Juergens, RN – HCA Healthcare (nashville, Tennessee): Named COO for ​Digital Transformation and Innovation. [10]
• Jennifer ‌yartym – Guthrie Corning Hospital (New York): Appointed President. [11]

Executive Changes from December 19-31, 2025

The final⁤ weeks of 2025 also⁢ saw ⁤significant leadership movement:

• Susan Takacs – Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW ⁤Health⁣ (Washington, D.C.): Appointed COO. [12]
• Nicholas Johnson – Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center ‍(Las Vegas): named⁢ CEO. [13]
• Amy Crouch ⁣–‍ HSHS Wisconsin: ​Appointed CFO. [14]
• Divya Matai – HSHS Central Illinois & Illinois Physician Enterprise: Appointed CFO. [15]
• Mark Thorn – HSHS Southern Illinois: Named CFO.[16]
• helen Arteaga Landaverde, phd⁢ – NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst: Appointed Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services in New York City. ‍ [17]
• abby Jackson⁣ – ⁢Children’s ⁣mercy Kansas City⁤ (Missouri): Appointed Vice President and Chief Compliance ⁣Officer. [18]
• Paul‌ Peterson – DeTar Healthcare system (Victoria,Texas): Named‍ COO. [19]
• hudson⁤ Sutton – ⁤AdventHealth Redmond ​(Rome, Georgia): Appointed Executive Director ‌of Operations. ⁢ [20]
• Jason Hill ⁣– Ochsner Health‌ (New​ Orleans): ‍Appointed Vice Chair ⁣of Hospital Medicine​ and⁢ Innovation. [21]
• Matt Leary – hutchinson Clinic‌ (Kansas): Named CEO. [22]
• Fallon‌ Phillips – Navarro Regional Hospital⁢ (Corsicana, Texas): Named Assistant‌ CEO. [23]
• Antonio “Tony” Chavira Jr. – ⁣Tyler County hospital (Woodville, Texas): Named CFO.[24]
• Bowei Hao ‌– Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City): Appointed⁢ Chief Strategy and Growth Officer. [25]
• Walter Young, MD – Southeast Health (Dothan, Alabama): Appointed‍ Interim Chief medical Officer. [26]
• Mitchell Katz, MD – NYC Health + Hospitals: Reappointed President and CEO. [27]
• Sanjay Desai, MD – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore): Named Vice⁢ Dean for ‌Education. [28]
• Lara Khouri – ‌MemorialCare’s Miller ​Children’s & Women’s Hospital​ (Long⁣ Beach, California): Named Chief Executive. [29]
• Kim Moody –‍ WellSpan Health (York, Pennsylvania): Appointed Vice⁤ President and chief Accounting Officer. [30]
• Samantha Crandall, PhD, RN – GBMC HealthCare‌ System (Towson,⁣ Maryland): Named Senior Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety. [31]
• David pierick – UNC Health (Chapel Hill, North Carolina): Named Director of Finance for Service⁢ Lines.[32]
• David Yu, ‍MD – ⁢Manning Family Children’s (New Orleans): Named Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.[33]
• Sonney Sapra ‍– UVA Health (Charlottesville, Virginia): ​Named CIO. [34]
• Brian Sinotte – UCSF Health (San Francisco): Named⁣ President of the ​UCSF Health Network. [35]
• Carlton Rule, MD – Bassett Healthcare Network (Cooperstown, New York): named Chief Quality⁤ Officer.[36]
• Perry ‌Sham – Niagara Falls Memorial ​Medical Center (New York): Named CFO. [37]
• Kavita Sharma, MD – Johns⁤ hopkins Hospital‌ (Baltimore): Named Associate Chief Medical Officer. [38]
• Amy Gonzalez‌ – Coral gables Hospital (florida): ‌ Named Assistant⁣ CFO. [39]
• Zach Yoder – OSF HealthCare (Illinois): Appointed Interim President of St. Mary Medical Center and Holy⁢ family Medical Center. [40]
• Lisa Schepers, DNP, RN – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s health Center (Alton, ​Illinois): Appointed Interim ‍President. [41]
• Paul Krakovitz, MD – Cone Health (Greensboro, North Carolina): Appointed CEO. [42]
• Jonathan Rosenthal – Ascension St. Joseph Hospital – Chicago: Named CFO. [43]
• brad​ Carvellas – Guthrie (Sayre, Pennsylvania): Appointed Senior Vice President⁤ and Chief Digital Officer. [44]
• katherine Bourbeau-Medinilla, MD – Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Colton, California): ​ Named the first Chief Population Health​ Officer⁤ and Associate Chief ​Medical Officer. [45]
• Jennifer Garnica, BSN, ​RN – hospital Sisters Health System: ⁣Appointed Central Illinois Market ​Chief nursing Officer. [46]
• Joanne Carrocino – Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional ‍(Cape ⁤May, New Jersey): Stepped down as CEO. [47]
• Tiffany comis, ‍MSN, RN – Redington-Fairview General Hospital (Skowhegan,‌ Maine): Appointed‌ CEO. [48]
• Tim Kirsch, MD‍ – Ivinson Memorial Hospital (Laramie, ‌Wyoming): Appointed the⁣ inaugural Chief Medical Officer. [49]
• Laura Baxter, BSN, ​RN –⁢ Veterans memorial Hospital (Waukon, Iowa): ⁢Appointed Chief Clinical Officer. [50]
• Mandy Shaiffer, MSN, RN‍ – Seton⁣ Medical ⁣Center Harker Heights & Wellstone Health Partners (Texas): ‌ Named CEO. [51]
• Abraham Houng, ⁢MD – Cooperman‌ Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, New Jersey): Appointed Chief⁢ academic officer. [52]
• Devon Sirney – TriStar Summit Medical Center (Nashville, Tennessee): Named Vice‍ President of Human Resources.⁣ [53]
• David Ratcliff, MD – Washington Regional Medical Center (Fayetteville, Arkansas): Stepped down as‍ Chief Medical Officer.[54]
• Nicole Phillips – Advocate Health (Charlotte, North Carolina): Named Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing, Brand and ‌Consumer Experience Officer. [55]
• Geetha ⁣Gangu,MD‌ – Methodist Hospital | Northeast (Live Oak,Texas): Appointed Chief Medical Officer. [56]
• Bobby Olm-Shipman – Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City (Missouri): Named President. ⁤ [57]
• Forest hannah – ⁣WVU Medicine (West Virginia): Appointed Vice ⁣President of Finance. [58]
• Kate Sawa ⁣– BayCare Health System (Clearwater, Florida): named the inaugural Chief ‍Philanthropy‍ Officer. [59]
• Curt Sudbeck – ​Nemaha Valley Community Hospital (Seneca, Kansas): Appointed COO. [60]
• Courtney Schmelzle – Nemaha Valley Community Hospital: Named HIPAA ‌Privacy Officer. [61]

The Importance of Leadership Changes in Healthcare

These frequent leadership changes‌ reflect the dynamic challenges and opportunities facing the healthcare industry. Factors driving these shifts​ include:

• Retirements: An aging ⁣workforce is leading to a wave of retirements among experienced healthcare leaders.
• Industry Consolidation: Mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the healthcare landscape, often resulting in ⁣leadership restructuring.
• Focus ​on Innovation: Hospitals are seeking leaders with the vision and expertise to drive innovation in areas like digital health and ⁢value-based care.
• Addressing Financial Pressures: Healthcare organizations are​ facing ‍increasing financial pressures, ‍requiring leaders with strong financial management skills.

Looking‌ Ahead

The trend of⁢ executive turnover is highly likely to continue in 2026 and beyond. healthcare organizations will need to prioritize succession ⁢planning ⁢and leadership development to ensure a smooth transition and maintain stability.The ‍ability to attract and retain talented leaders will be crucial for navigating the complex challenges and capitalizing ⁢on the opportunities that ‌lie ahead.