Health system C-suites are evolving to meet the changing needs and priorities of the organization. Roles focused on the patient experience, sustainability and health equity are on the rise.
Large and small health systems are revamping their C-suites to tackle new projects and oversee emerging areas of growth. Others are elevating clinical and IT leaders as their core accountabilities become an essential aspect of hospital strategy moving forward.
Here are five emerging roles at health systems across the country.
Chief Consumer Officer
Sentara Health in Norfolk, Va., hired its first executive vice president and chief consumer officer in May. Adam Holyk is responsible for identifying opportunities to meet each consumer where they're at in their healthcare journey and shaping the organization's consumer experience strategy. He is also accountable for enhancing customer loyalty and supporting the successful implementation of the One Sentara transformation.
The 12-hospital system, which also includes a health plan, aims to expand its reputation within the community for high quality clinical care and personalized, consumer-friendly healthcare experiences. Mr. Holyk has previous experience as senior vice president of strategy for Walgreens, where he created consumer growth models and forged key partnerships. He also spent time as chief marketing officer of Walgreens, where he relaunched the retail giant's brand.
Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Fla., and Cleveland-based University Hospitals also have chief consumer officers appointed in recent years. Advocate Health, based in Charlotte, N.C., named a chief marketing, communications and consumer experience officer within the last year.
Chief Decarbonization and Sustainability Officer
NYC Health + Hospitals appointed Omer Cabuk, as the first chief decarbonization officer, in May. He is responsible for carrying forward the health system's climate resiliency plan and implementing recommendations. The projects he will focus on include installing solar panels and upgrading equipment for more efficiency.
Mr. Cabuk will also make sure the health system is compliant with New York city's environmental laws, requiring buildings over 25,000 feet cut operational emissions by 40% by next year and 50% by 2030.
Prior to his appointment in May, Mr. Cabuk was the senior director of decarbonization and sustainability at the system. He also has experience working with New York City in a variety of roles focused on sustainability.
Northwestern Medicine in Chicago named Jeff Good to a similar role last year: chief sustainability executive. He was the inaugural sustainability chief of the system and is leading the development of Northwestern's comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship. Renton, Wash.-based Providence has also elevated Beth Schenk, PhD, to chief environmental stewardship officer with accountabilities for meeting the health system's decarbonization and environmental impact goals.
Chief Digital Officer
While the chief digital officer role isn't new, St. Louis-based SSM Health named its first digital chief in May. Saad Chaudhry, who previously served as chief digital and information officer at Annapolis, Md.-based Luminis Health, stepped into the role to oversee the 23-hospital system's digital strategy.
Mr. Chaudhry has accountability for the health system's data and analytics, digital health, enterprise architecture and informatics. He is working closely with the health system's CIO and chief strategy officer to execute on projects for the $10.5 billion system.
Phoenix-based Banner Health also created a new technology-related role in April: chief technology officer. San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare's former CIO and chief innovation officer Michael Reagin stepped into the inaugural role, responsible for IT, data strategy and digital transformation at the 33-hospital system. His role is separate from the health system's CIO role, which was vacated in March and the executive team has not decided whether to backfill the position.
Chief Development Officer
MaineHealth promoted its vice president of philanthropy from Maine Medical Center to the first systemwide chief development officer in May. Susan Doliner is responsible for creating a systemwide philanthropy department in her new role until she retires in January, at which time the health system will name a permanent chief development officer.
The new role will help support local hospital organizations on specific projects and focus efforts to raise funds within each community the Portland-based health system serves. The role will also strengthen and expand donor relationships.
New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System also has a chief development officer, Mark Kostengan, who has served in the role since 2008. He has overseen efforts to raise around $3 billion in philanthropic revenue since then and continues to grow the fundraising program. Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center's chief development officer, Murray Ancell, has a similar focused on philanthropy.
Chief Health Disparities Officer
Ballad Health in Johnson City, Tenn., appointed Paula Masters, DrPH, to a newly created role responsible for developing and implementing programs that will reduce health disparities. Dr. Masters will tackle inequities internally within the health system and externally in the community by collaborating with clinicians and outside organizations.
As chief health disparities officer, Dr. Masters will hold a unique position of influence within the health system. She has experience serving on the board for the Tennessee Hospital Association and was president of the Tennessee Public Health Association prior to joining Ballad.
Health equity has been elevated at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health as well, where Chere Chase-Gregory, MD, serves as senior vice president and chief health equity officer. She has held the position since 2019 and leverages her clinical experience to ensure the health system has a deep understanding of the characteristics of local communities. She also leads efforts to reduce healthcare disparities and internal biases.
Other health systems have a variation of the chief health equity officer, including chief diversity, equity and inclusion officers.. Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health also has a chief equity officer, Tiffany Capales, who is focused on building new clinics and expanding primary, dental and behavioral healthcare.