Leadership
Biographies
Robert A. Chrencik, MBA, CPA
President and Chief Executive Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Robert Chrencik has been the president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System since 2008. Prior to becoming CEO, he was the long-time financial leader of the Medical System since its creation in 1984. Chrencik became its CFO in 1987 and executive vice president and chief financial officer in 1999. Prior to joining the Medical System, Chrencik was a senior manager in the healthcare consulting practice at KPMG and a Supervisor in the accounting and audit practice at PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
Chrencik earned a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Bucknell University and a Master's of Business Administration degree from Loyola University in Maryland. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Chrencik is an ex-officio member of the Medical System's Board of Directors and serves on the Board of each UMMS hospital. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Maryland Hospital Association and Chairman of the Association's Operations Committee. Chrencik is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baltimore Committee, the Center Club, and is a past president of the Maryland Chapter of the Health Care Financial Management Association.
Henry J. Franey, MBA
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Henry J. Franey, a financial management expert with more than 30 years of experience in the health care sector, is executive vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Maryland Medical System. Franey is responsible for all of the Medical System's financial services, including strategic financial and capital planning, investment and debt management, rate setting and reimbursement, and financial reporting.
Since 1992, Franey has been senior vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Maryland Medical Center, the academic medical center in downtown Baltimore, comprised of University Hospital, University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland Hospital for Children, the RA Cowley Shock Trauma Center, and other services.
Prior to joining the University of Maryland Medical Center, Franey was a healthcare consulting partner in the Baltimore Office of the international accounting firm of KPMG. A certified public accountant, Franey earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Towson University, and an MBA in finance from Loyola College in Maryland. He has served on the National Advisory Council of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a past President of the Maryland Chapter.
Megan M. Arthur
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
University of Maryland Medical System
Megan Arthur is responsible for overseeing all legal affairs throughout the
System. She manages the System's internal legal staff and supervises the System's
use of external legal resources. Her major responsibilities include integrating
legal services across the Medical System, negotiating and drafting a wide range
of transactional agreements and documents, advising the Board of Directors and
Corporate staff on legal matters related to strategic plans, and managing outside
litigation and specialty counsel.
A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, Arthur was previously executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate compliance officer for Magellan Health Services. She was also associate general counsel at CareFirst, Inc, and an associate at Venable, Baetjer & Howard.
John W. Ashworth III
Senior Vice President, Network Development
University of Maryland Medical System
Associate Dean
University of Maryland School of Medicine
John Ashworth was promoted to senior vice president for network development for the University of Maryland Medical System and associate dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in June 2004. Ashworth is responsible for developing the Medical System's statewide network, directing acquisition strategies, and working to strengthen partnerships with hospitals and physician groups throughout Maryland. Additionally, he will continue to serve as the Medical System's principal liaison to the Shock Trauma Center and other hospital emergency services, as well as to community-based health advocacy and support groups relating to trauma and emergency care.
Prior to becoming senior vice president for network development, Ashworth served as CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center, and before that as its chief operating officer. He had previously been director of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and had also served as senior vice president for strategic planning and program development.
Ashworth has held numerous national leadership posts, including chairman of the Hospital Council of the American Trauma Society and president of the American Trauma Society. He received a BA degree from the University of Virginia and an MHA degree from George Washington University. He is on the faculty in the Department of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Jon P. Burns
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Jon Burns is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the University of Maryland Medical System. He is responsible for all information technology services and strategies across the twelve hospital system. Additionally, he is responsible for supply chain strategies, integration, and operations for the Medical System. Burns, who has 31 years experience in the health care industry in the not-for-profit provider sector, has primary interest in the integration of information technology with clinical and business operations to improve outcomes, operational effectiveness, and business efficiency.
Prior to joining UMMS in May of 2006, Burns was Senior Executive of Information Technology for the Cleveland Clinic Health System. Burns was also responsible for technology services to the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and a number of emerging technologies initiatives across the Cleveland Clinic Health System. He served as the Chief Technology Officer of eCleveland Clinic, an Internet-based care delivery model.
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic in 1997, he had served in a number of senior level administrative, financial and operational positions at Forum Health, UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania. While at UNC, he was appointed as Faculty Associate at UNC's School of Public Health-Department of Health Policy and Administration.
Mary Lynn Carver
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
University of Maryland Medical System
Mary Lynn Carver is the Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for the University of Maryland Medical System. In this role, she serves as senior communications counselor to the CEO of the Medical System on internal and external communication issues, crisis management, and reputation strategy.
As part of her responsibilities at the University of Maryland Medical System, Carver manages corporate communications strategy and execution, including print and electronic publications, Internet/Intranet site design and development, media relations and graphic design.
Before accepting a position with the Medical System in September 2010, Carver served as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, including all scientific research communications. Prior to that, Carver worked for over 11 years at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, one of the world's largest drug companies, serving as a senior communications executive in their North American headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware and at the company's world headquarters in London, England.
Carver received her BA in Communications and Sociology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She began her career in the field of business communications and strategy consulting. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and has been recognized as an accredited business communicator (ABC) by the International Association of Business Communicators.
Rick E. Dunning
Senior Vice President, Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
University of Maryland Medical System
Rick Dunning joins the University of Maryland Medical System with extensive experience and an excellent track record in planning and construction of major health care facilities. He will be responsible for all phases of new building construction -- such as the new patient tower to be built at Baltimore Washington Medical Center and the UM Medical Center's ambulatory care project, under development in partnership with the UM School of Medicine -- as well as major renovations throughout the medical system.
For the past 13 years, Dunning has been director of facility projects administration at Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, North Carolina. There, he led a wide range of improvements and capital construction projects at five hospitals as well as dozens of other facilities, including ambulatory centers, skilled nursing facilities, community health clinics and administrative buildings.
Before joining the Moses Cone Health System, Dunning worked for McDevitt & Street Company's Healthcare Division in Nashville, Tennessee and Anaheim, California. He received a bachelor of science degree in building construction from Auburn University and is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.
Donna L. Jacobs
Senior Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs
University of Maryland Medical System
Donna Jacobs's areas of emphasis at the University of Maryland Medical System include Medicaid and other reimbursement issues, and she's also working on developing corporate strategies related to women's and children's health programs and mental health services.
Prior to joining the Medical System, Jacobs was Deputy Chief of Staff to Maryland Governor Parris Glendening. Jacobs has advised the Governor on important health care policy issues, including the Cancer and Tobacco Control initiatives and the Maryland Children's Health Program.
A graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut and the Georgetown University Law Center, Jacobs has practiced law for two firms: Semmes, Bowen & Semmes in Baltimore and Weinberg and Green, LLC. Her legal practice focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance-related matters.
Jacobs has held leadership roles with civic, community and professional organizations, including President of the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, Commissioner on the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission, Chair of the advisory board of the Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center and a member of the board of the House of Ruth.
Mark Kelemen, MD, M.Sc., MBA
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Informatics Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Mark Kelemen joined the system in 2007 to facilitate the successful adoption of leading edge clinical information technology, including the system-wide Portfolio electronic medical record project. He will work closely with Jon Burns, UMMS Chief Information Officer, in the development and implementation of the Portfolio project. Dr. Kelemen brings to this new role an established ability to work effectively on complex technology projects with diverse physician groups. He most recently served as the director of Clinical Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and continues to pracrtice consultative cardiology.
Dr. Kelemen grew up in Columbia, Maryland, and attended Brown University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He trained in internal medicine at Duke University and in cardiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also has an M.Sc. degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and an MBA in Medical Services Management, also from Johns Hopkins. He served on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for seven years before joining the University of Maryland in 2002.
He has written more than 30 scientific articles, has served on state commissions on cardiovascular care and has helped develop national guidelines for in-hospital management of hyperglycemia. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Glenn F. Robbins, MD
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Glenn F. Robbins, MD, is senior vice president and chief medical officer (CMO) for the University of Maryland Medical System. In this role, Dr. Robbins serves as a member of the System's senior leadership team with administrative responsibility for monitoring and ensuring the safety and quality of patient care within the System hospitals.
Dr. Robbins works with a team of hospital CMOs to provide leadership and direction for improving clinical outcomes, patient safety, and medical resource utilization. He also staffs the University of Maryland Medical Systems' Board Patient Quality and Safety Committee.
He was previously senior vice president and CMO for Baltimore Washington Medical Center, which became part of the University of Maryland Medical System in 1999. At BWMC, Dr. Robbins oversaw care improvement and quality assurance efforts and served in additional leadership roles, including Chief of the Department of Internal Medicine and President of the Medical Staff. His background also includes more than 25 years in private practice.
A graduate of Temple University, Dr. Robbins earned his medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his internship and residency training at Northwestern University in Chicago and is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Mark L. Wasserman
Senior Vice President, External Affairs & Development
University of Maryland Medical System
Mark Wasserman has served in his current position since 1997. Prior to joining the University of Maryland Medical System, Wasserman was assistant to the vice president for business development for AMTRAK and vice president for First Fidelity Bank, where he was responsible for business development, government and public affairs. From 1991 to 1995, he served as Maryland's Secretary of Economic and Employment Development and prior to that served as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Maryland. In 1986, Wasserman managed a successful gubernatorial campaign for William Donald Schaefer.
From 1976 to 1985, Wasserman served on the physical development staff for the Mayor of Baltimore. Wasserman earned a B.A. degree from the George Washington University and a master's degree in Community Planning from the University of Maryland. Wasserman is currently a board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, The Babe Ruth Museum, and Medical Mutual.
Jerry Wollman
Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations
University of Maryland Medical System
Jerry Wollman is the senior vice president of corporate operations for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). He is responsible for leading and facilitating key strategic and operational issues for the Office of the CEO of UMMS. Most recently, Wollman served as business director at the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Previously, Wollman worked at UMMS as assistant vice president for executive affairs and later as vice president for corporate operations. He also served as the senior administrator for the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Wollman earned his nursing degree in 1986 from the University of Maryland and was an RN on the burn unit at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. from 1986 to 1989. He moved to the Washington Hospital Center in 1989, where he was a cardiovascular nurse until 1995. In 1996, he earned his Masters of Health Science degree in Health Finance and Management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Christine Bachrach
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
University of Maryland Medical System
Christine Bachrach is the Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President for the University of Maryland Medical System. She is responsible for oversight of compliance across the system, including the development and implementation of new measures to improve the effectiveness of each hospital's regulatory compliance program.
Previously, Bachrach was Chief Compliance Officer for HealthSouth, where she established an enterprise methodology for regulatory compliance risk assessments, including integrating efforts from Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Prior to joining HealthSouth, she was a principal at Navigant Consulting. Before that, Bachrach worked at Arthur Andersen.
She has an undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in industrial engineering and decision support and, through a Graduate Fellowship, a master's degree in engineering and operations research from the University of California at Berkeley. Bachrach has been recognized as Certified in Healthcare Compliance Fellowship (CHC-F) by the Health Care Compliance Association.
Jeffrey A. Rivest, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
University of Maryland Medical Center
Jeffrey Rivest, a senior health care executive who has played a key role in the growth and success of several top academic medical centers over the past 25 years, became president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center on November 1, 2004.
For the past 16 years, Rivest has held key leadership roles at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which is ranked among the leading hospitals and research facilities in the world. Rivest joined CHOP in 1988 as senior vice president for clinical and ambulatory services. In 1990, he became executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer. His role was expanded in 1998 to include both Children's Hospital and the newly formed Pediatric Healthcare Network, a comprehensive network of health care services for children.
Rivest was highly successful in helping the hospital achieve rapid growth in market share and service lines, expand and improve its facilities, enhance its workforce and strengthen relationships with physician leaders. Highlights of his career at CHOP included a 30 percent increase in market share through the implementation of unique new clinical services, strong financial performance, including consistent AA bond ratings, a $650 million facility expansion and the development of one of the largest pediatric integrated ambulatory care networks in the country.
Rivest led a management team that produced an impressive array of advancements in many services which resulted in top ratings by JCAHO and other hospital accreditation agencies and achievement of nursing magnet certification. The hospital was also recognized by the State of Pennsylvania as an employer of choice and by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked it the #1 children's hospital in the nation in 2003 and 2004.
Prior to joining CHOP, Rivest was administrator of the Johns Hopkins Children's Center from 1983 to 1988. He had held previous leadership roles at Hopkins from 1975 to 1981, when he left to become the administrator of the Department of Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center, a position he held until 1983.
Rivest received a master's degree in financial management and health care administration from George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Maryland. He is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and a member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. Rivest holds professional certifications from Harvard University, the University of North Carolina and University of Michigan School of Business.
Karen E. Olscamp
President and Chief Executive Officer
Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Karen Olscamp, who has served as Baltimore Washington Medical Center's interim president and chief executive officer since August of 2008, was promoted to president and CEO in March of 2009. She previously served as senior vice-president and chief operating officer from 1997 to 2008.
Olscamp received her bachelor's degree in 1981 from the University of Rochester, and her master of health services administration degree in 1987 from the George Washington University. She completed her master's degree residency program at BWMC, and assumed an assistant administrator position for a brief time before being promoted to vice president of Operations in November 1988.
Olscamp serves on the board of the BWI Business Partnership. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the Maryland Association of Healthcare Executives.
James E. Ross, MBA, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chester River Health System
James Ross was named president of Chester River Health System in January of 2010. He had served as the CEO of Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation since December of 1994 and prior to that, CEO of Montebello Rehabilitation Hospital, working for the University of Maryland Medical System management team operating Montebello under contract for the State of Maryland. He became President of Montebello upon the Medical System's ownership control in 1992 prior to its acquisition by Kernan. Also, from 1993 to 1994, Ross served as the vice president of finance and strategic planning at the Shock Trauma Center.
Prior to joining the Medical System, Ross was director of professional services, vice president of professional/general services and vice president of operations at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and held various management positions in the business and healthcare industry. Ross received an MBA degree from Loyola College in Maryland and a B.S. degree from the University of Baltimore. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and actively participates on numerous civic and professional associations.
Michael Jablonover, MD, MBA, FACP
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
Michael Jablonover, MD, was named president of CEO of Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation in January of 2010. Dr. Jablonover previously served as Kernan's vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer.
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Jablonover has also served as chief medical officer at University Specialty Hospital, as interim chief medical officer at the University of Maryland Medical Center, as director of hospitalist services at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and as associate chief, general internal medicine, department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and earned an MBA with a health care specialization from the University of Baltimore. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Sylvia Smith Johnson, MBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Maryland General Hospital
Sylvia Smith Johnson, a former vice president at the University of Maryland Medical Center who served as Maryland General Hospital's interim president since November 2005, was chosen as Maryland General's President and Chief Executive Officer in June of 2006.
Smith Johnson has nearly 30 years of hospital experience. In 2004, she became Chief Operating Officer at Maryland General, where she was responsible for 400 employees and a $30 million budget. She established new decision support processes for capital, space and human resources, redesigned the organizational structure to better align responsibilities and oversaw all major renovation and construction projects.
Prior to that, Smith Johnson worked for the University of Maryland Medical Center from 1976 to 2004, where she held increasingly responsible roles, including vice president for operations.
Smith Johnson has a bachelor of science degree in management from the University of Maryland, University College and a master's degree in business administration from the Loyola College executive program. She has also received management training at the Wharton School of Business. She is a member of the American Hospital Resource and Materials Managers Association, the Maryland Association of Health Care Executives and serves on the board of directors of PRIME, a purchasing group for the Maryland Hospital Association.
James E. Ross, MBA, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chester River Health System
James Ross was named president of Chester River Health System in January of 2010. He had served as the CEO of Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation since December of 1994 and prior to that, CEO of Montebello Rehabilitation Hospital, working for the University of Maryland Medical System management team operating Montebello under contract for the State of Maryland. He became President of Montebello upon the Medical System's ownership control in 1992 prior to its acquisition by Kernan. Also, from 1993 to 1994, Ross served as the vice president of finance and strategic planning at the Shock Trauma Center.
Prior to joining the Medical System, Ross was director of professional services, vice president of professional/general services and vice president of operations at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and held various management positions in the business and healthcare industry. Ross received an MBA degree from Loyola College in Maryland and a B.S. degree from the University of Baltimore. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and actively participates on numerous civic and professional associations.
Sheldon Stein, MBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Mr. Stein is the President and CEO of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, a 102-bed specialty children’s hospital with two sites in the Baltimore/Washington area: the main Baltimore hospital and an outpatient center and a satellite operation in Prince George’s Hospital Center just outside the Washington DC. In 1995, Mr. Stein was recruited to join the staff, where he successfully negotiated Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital through two mergers while significantly increasing the hospital’s programs and profitability. In 2001, Mr. Stein was named president and CEO of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.
A native New Yorker, Mr. Stein received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and holds a MBA from the University of Colorado. Mr. Stein is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and member of The Maryland Chapter of Health Care Administrators. He serves on the Management of Information Services Council and Specialty Hospital Section for the National Association of Children’s Hospitals.
Kenneth D. Kozel, MBA, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Shore Health System
Kenneth D. Kozel was named President and CEO of Shore Health System in July of 2011. He has extensive experience in strategic operational, fiscal and programmatic plans designed to support the mission and vision of Shore Health System. He has an extensive background in building and managing collaborative teams, overseeing multiple clinical and non-clinical divisions and departments and achieving strategic objectives. He has previously demonstrated success in maintaining federal, state and local accreditations for Upper Chesapeake Health, where he most recently served as President of Upper Chesapeake Hospitals. He is experienced in developing, implementing and monitoring systems, policies and procedures that improve patient safety, patient care and enhance patient quality of life.
Mr. Kozel has 24 years of healthcare experience. Prior to being named the CEO of Shore Health System, he held a number of senior-management positions at Upper Chesapeake Health. These positions included President, UCH Hospitals in 2011, Executive Vice President from 2009 through 2010, and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2005 to 2009. He also served as Vice President, Operations; Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Services; and Business Development and Laboratory Director from 1997 to 2004 at Upper Chesapeake. Prior to joining Upper Chesapeake, Mr. Kozel served in a variety of positions in the Clinical Laboratory Division at John Hopkins Hospital from 1988 to 1997.
Kozel has an MBA from the Johns Hopkins University, and BS in Medical Technology from The University of Maryland at Baltimore. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives. His service responsibilities include board member of the Maryland Association of Healthcare Executives and member of its Community Outreach Committee as well as member of the Maryland Hospital Association’s Council on Clinical Quality Issues.
This page was last updated on: November 18, 2011.