The healthcare industry is witnessing notable shifts as several organizations announce key executive appointments alongside significant layoffs. This monthly roundup highlights recent changes that reflect ongoing trends within the sector.
New Appointments and Promotions
The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit that accredits healthcare organizations, has appointed Arjun Srinivasan as its new deputy chief medical officer. Srinivasan brings over two decades of experience from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he served as deputy director of the division of healthcare quality promotion.
In another significant move, Kaya Pai Panandiker has joined LB Pharmaceuticals as chief commercial officer. Previously with Neumora Therapeutics, Panandiker has also held leadership roles at Cerevel Therapeutics and Lundbeck U.S.
Healthcare engagement platform mPulse has announced the appointment of Eileen Cianciolo as its new chief product officer. Cianciolo comes from Clarity Software Solutions, which mPulse acquired in August.
Population health company Navvis has named Jeff Gleason as its chief medical officer. His background includes executive roles at Guidehouse and Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network.
In a leadership transition, Tarek Salaway will take over as CEO of Oregon Health & Science University on December 15. Currently a senior vice president at Kaiser Permanente, he oversees regional strategy and operations for the company’s health plans.
Additionally, Marcel Reichen has been appointed chief strategy officer at Ratio Therapeutics, moving from Novartis, where he focused on business development for cancer therapies.
Promotions within the sector include Matthew Zuino, who will become CEO of Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, on January 17. Zuino has been with Baptist since 2017, initially as president of the physician enterprise, and he has served as COO since 2020. He succeeds Michael Mayo, who led the organization for nearly 15 years.
The Cigna Group has appointed Amy Flaster as its new chief medical officer. Flaster has been part of Cigna since last year and has a decade of experience as an internal medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Optum Health, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, has promoted Krista Nelson to CEO. Nelson joined Optum this year as COO and has a long history with UnitedHealth Group, serving in various leadership roles.
Finally, Cristy Page has officially taken over as CEO of UNC Health after serving in an interim capacity since July. Page has been with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2016.
Layoffs and Restructuring
Amid these executive changes, the industry is also facing significant layoffs. Oak Street Health plans to eliminate 219 jobs early next year due to a restructuring by its parent company, CVS Health. This decision comes as CVS navigates its own financial adjustments within the healthcare marketplace.
Optum is set to shut down nearly 90 clinics in New Jersey, resulting in the loss of 572 jobs. The layoffs are expected to occur throughout February and March, affecting numerous employees across the state.
PacificSource is cutting 300 positions, approximately one-sixth of its workforce, citing financial pressures including a decline in Medicaid membership as the primary reason.
Providence is also implementing layoffs, eliminating 446 roles, with 296 in Washington and 150 in Oregon. The health system has indicated that financial constraints are driving these job cuts.
Lastly, Tower Health in Pennsylvania is laying off 350 employees due to ongoing financial challenges. The affected positions primarily include administrative staff, non-clinical support roles, and some frontline healthcare workers.
These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the healthcare sector, characterized by both new opportunities and substantial challenges as organizations navigate a complex landscape.
