A Surge of Revenue Cycle Leadership Moves

Revenue Cycle Leadership Moves – RCR|HUB’s Shaker and Movers

Tracking executive and operational leadership changes within the Healthcare Revenue Cycle CommUnity

January 1 – 27, 2026

A Surge of Revenue Cycle Leadership Moves

January 2026 is proving to be a month of significant leadership changes in Healthcare Revenue Cycle. From large healthcare systems, specialty groups, and academic medical centers, the first 27 days of 2026 have seen a remarkable number of executive leadership appointments, promotions, and strategic role expansion. These changes are not about turnover; they are about a renewed focus on revenue integrity, managed care, automation, and enterprise-wide revenue cycle alignment.

What has been noteworthy this month has been the scope of these leadership changes, touching all aspects of the revenue cycle, including Managed Care, Financial Navigation, Automation, CDI, Authorization, and finance and operations leadership.

Here’s a look at some of the leaders who will shape the next chapter of Healthcare Revenue Cycle.

Enterprise & System Revenue Cycle Leadership

Todd Manion

Chair of Revenue Cycle

Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN

Mayo Clinic has appointed Todd Manion as Chair of Revenue Cycle, replacing Sharon Kelley in early January 2026. Manion has extensive experience in coding, revenue integrity, outpatient documentation, and provider education, further emphasizing the importance of data-driven revenue cycle operations.

Misty Brackett, FACHE, FHFMA, RHIA, CHC

Vice President, Consolidated Business Office

Novant Health | Charlotte, NC

VP of Revenue Cycle at Erlanger Health System, Misty Brackett, has now joined Novant Health as Vice President of Consolidated Business Office, as part of a broader investment in revenue cycle leadership in early 2026.

Arjun Bhatia

Vice President of Revenue Cycle Transformation 

Novant Health 

In his new role as VP of Revenue Cycle Transformation, Bhatia was formerly the Assistant VP of Revenue Cycle at Wellstar Health System.

Chris Spady 

Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle 

Erlanger Health System | Chattanooga, TN 

After serving as the Southeast Division VP of Revenue Cycle at CommonSpirit, Spady is now at Erlanger as their new Senior VP of Revenue Cycle.

Craig Connors 

Vice President, Revenue Cycle & Payer Relations 

Valley Health | Winchester, VA 

Connors is now at Valley Health after his former role as the President and CEO at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Amanda de los Reyes, MBA, FHFMA, EHRC 

Vice President of Revenue Cycle 

Renown Health | Reno, NV 

De los Reyes is now at Renown Health after formerly working at Valleywise Health.

Financial, Operations & Executive Leadership 

Chris Pass 

Chief Financial Officer 

Keck Medicine of USC | Los Angeles, CA 

Jessi Ayers 

Chief Financial Officer 

Easterseals PORT Health 

David Weis 

Regional President and CEO 

AdventHealth Colorado 

Jim Bradley, FACHE 

Chief Executive Officer 

Sutter Amador Hospital 

Amanda Duke 

Chief Executive Officer 

Sandhills Medical 

Richard Roehr 

Division President 

Appalachian Regional Healthcare 

These new executive leadership roles show the alignment between finance, operations, and Revenue Cycle.

Revenue Cycle Operations, Strategy & Specialty Leadership 

Shawn McCardell 

Senior Director, Physician Patient Financial Services 

Mercy Medical Center | Baltimore, MD 

Jessica Rock 

Vice President, RCM Operations 

Therapy Partners Group 

Josephine Michel 

Vice President of Revenue Cycle 

Gastro Health 

Melissa Miller

Executive Director of Revenue Cycle 

AdventHealth 

Gabrielle Werling 

Senior Revenue Cycle Strategy Partner 

City of Hope 

Douglas Womble 

Director, Revenue Cycle Integration 

Novant Health 

Elias Villaverde 

System Director of Revenue Cycle Automation 

Mass General Brigham 

Josh Lord 

Manager, Revenue Cycle Analytics, Automation & Diversified Revenue 

Mayo Clinic 

These appointments highlight a shift in focus toward analytics, automation, physician enterprise integration, and system-wide revenue cycle alignment. 

Managed Care, Authorization, CDI & Financial Navigation 

Newsha Fardmanesh 

Director, Managed Care & Contracting 

Nor Healthcare Systems 

Carrie Monger 

Senior Director, Payer Relations & Strategy 

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association 

Jennifer Headen 

System Executive Director of Financial Navigation 

UNC Health 

Lana Mallard, CPC 

Director of Authorization 

Mount Sinai Health System 

Kerri Swart, BSN, RN, CCDS, CRCR 

Interim Associate Director, Utilization Management 

SUNY Upstate University Hospital 

Laura Wilson 

Coding Director 

OhioHealth 

These appointments highlight a shift in focus toward managed care, authorization, financial navigation, and CDI. 

What January’s Movement Signals 

This many leadership appointments in a single month signal a number of important trends: 

Revenue Cycle leadership is moving up to the health system enterprise level 

Health systems are investing in transformation, not just maintenance 

Revenue Cycle leadership positions focused on automation, analytics, and payer strategy 

Leadership positions focused on financial navigation, authorization, and CDI 

Revenue Cycle leadership positions that are more integrated with operations and finance 

January didn’t ease into 2026; it jumped straight in. 

34 leadership appointments  | 18 organizations  | 27 days 

 We will continue to track leadership appointments at health systems, specialty groups, and academic organizations around the country. 

If you have moved or know of someone who has been appointed to a revenue cycle leadership role, please let us know.  Stay connected. Stay informed. 

And as always, We Will See You Online.