Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care named the executive leadership team that will lead Advocate Aurora Health once the merger is complete.
The Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care merger requires one final regulatory review. The final approval is expected in the coming weeks.
Advocate Aurora Health will comprise 27 hospitals, 500-plus sites of care and nearly 70,000 employees.
The new leadership team includes the following individuals:
• CFO: Dominic Nakis, who has been a leader at Advocate for 30-plus years
• COO: Bill Santulli, who has been a leader within Advocate for nearly 20 years
• CIO: Bobbie Byrne, MD, who has worked at Advocate for nearly one year
• CMO: Lee Sacks, MD, who has been with Advocate for 40 years
• Chief nursing officer: Mary Beth Kingston, RN, who has worked at Aurora for six years
• Chief business development officer: Rick Klein, who has worked at Aurora since 1986
• Chief strategy officer: Scott Powder, who has served as a strategic thought leader at Advocate for 24 years
• Chief integration officer: Mike Lappin, who joined Aurora in 2009
• Chief legal officer: Michael Grebe, who joined Aurora in 2017
• Chief marketing officer: Kelly Jo Golson, who has worked at Advocate since 2007
• Chief external affairs officer: Cristy Garcia-Thomas, who joined Aurora in 2011
• Chief human resources officer: Kevin Brady, who has worked at Advocate for 26-plus years
• Chief spiritual officer: Rev. Kathie Bender, who has worked at Advocate for nearly 10 years
• Chief Advocate medical group officer: Vince Bufalino, MD, who has been with Advocate for six years
• Chief Aurora medical group officer: Jeff Bahr, MD, who joined Aurora in 2002
"This strong and visionary leadership team positions us to enhance our work on safety, outcomes, cost and consumer experience to deliver on our promise of reimagining the possibilities of health for those we serve," said Jim Skogsbergh, president and CEO of Advocate as well as appointed co-CEO of Advocate Aurora Health.