Boston Medical Center Health System announces first chief officers for strategy, transformation and digital information; new executive leadership team will advance model for clinical and operational innovation and health equity and access
Boston Medical Center Health System (BMCHS), a nationally-recognized integrated healthcare system comprised of Boston Medical Center, an academic medical center and the largest essential hospital in New England, WellSense Health Plan, a non-profit health insurance plan, Clearway Health, a pharmacy solutions company, Boston Accountable Care Organization, and Boston HealthNet affiliated community health centers, today announced its expanded executive leadership team, which includes healthcare strategy and digital experts to serve in newly established or reconceived senior leadership roles to drive growth, innovation, and equity for patients and members across the system.
BMCHS announced the appointment of health care strategist Cindy Bo as its first Chief Strategy Officer to lead BMCHS’ strategic plan and priorities with an emphasis on healthcare innovation, growth, and community and behavioral health integration. Bo joined BMCHS from Nemours Children’s Health. Jesse Souweine was appointed as its first Chief Transformation Officer to lead the development, execution, and sustainability of key initiatives that align with the health system’s overarching strategic plan. Souweine joined BMCHS from The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. BMCHS also appointed Verizon Media veteran executive and digital transformation strategist Joy Brown as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer to evolve the health system’s digital capabilities to improve healthcare access, efficiency, and outcomes.
These appointments, together with the reimagining of existing BMCHS leadership roles, aligns with the vision of Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President & CEO of BMCHS, for the system and healthcare industry.
“This deeply accomplished leadership team will help us reshape how we deliver care to our patients and members in a fully integrated system, from cutting-edge clinical treatments to groundbreaking research to unique partnerships in the community,” Bell said. “Boston Medical Center Health System is positioned at the crossroads of clinical and operational innovation and health equity and access. As an academic medical system, with our newly reimagined leadership team and dedicated staff, we have the ability to extend the impact of our transformational model of care far beyond the communities we directly serve.”
BMCHS is engaged in an extensive hospital president search to realize its full vision of executive leadership.
Newly created and expanded BMCHS executive leadership roles include:
Robert Biggio, previously Senior Vice President of Facilities and Support Services, has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability & Real Estate Officer at BMCHS, to reflect his growing role and work on carbon reduction in recognition of the major impact global warming will have on our communities. He will continue to manage BMCHS’ major capital projects and facilities, while sharing lessons from BMCHS’ carbon reduction and sustainability with organizations across the country. Biggio joined the hospital in 2011.
Cindy Bo, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, will define BMCHS’ growth strategy across priority initiatives to deepen the reach of our mission to provide expert and equitable care for all. She most recently served as the Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Delaware Valley, at Nemours Children’s Health, one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems. Bo also held consulting and business planning roles at Deloitte, Booz Allen, and Novartis AG and is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow.
Joy Brown, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer for BMCHS, will lead the health system’s digital, technology, cybersecurity and information strategy to enhance operations for patients and members. She most recently served as the Chief Data Officer at Verizon Media, where she led the integration and expansion of advanced digital capabilities across the Verizon Media enterprise. Before her tenure at Verizon Media, she led the credit card global data, analytics, and machine learning function at Capital One. Brown brings a range of experience from key positions at UnitedHealth Group, Vanguard, and General Electric.
Rachel Felix, MBA, has been promoted to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer of BMCHS, overseeing the strategy and intersection of key stakeholders through Marketing & Communications, Development, Community Engagement & External Affairs, and Mission initiatives and engagements. In her new role, Felix is focusing on growth of audiences across clinical service lines, philanthropy and community partnerships. Felix joined BMCHS in 2022, after serving in a succession of marketing and leadership roles, including at Mass General Brigham and Paramount.
Jesse Souweine, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, is responsible for strategy implementation and organizational alignment, and will play a key role in bridging work at the hospital, health plan, and other entities across the system. She was most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where she led strategic initiatives and transformation. Souweine was an advisor to the Boston Mayor early in her career, and has held leadership roles at Harvard and MIT.
Established BMCHS executive leadership roles include:
- Heather Thiltgen, President of WellSense Health Plan
- Nicole Faucher, President of Clearway Health
- David Beck, JD, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for BMCHS
- Lisa Kelly-Croswell, MA, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for BMCHS
- Terri Newsom, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at BMCHS
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About Boston Medical Center Health System
Boston Medical Center Health System provides world-class care to all, with an emphasis on health equity, clinical and research excellence, and the treatment of complex conditions through a value based, coordinated continuum of care.
BMC Health System includes Boston Medical Center, with one million patient visits annually; WellSense Health Plan, a Medicaid managed care organization with 740,000 members in Massachusetts and New Hampshire; Boston University Medical Group, with 800 physicians, non-physician clinicians, educators and researchers across 18 clinical departments at BMC; Boston HealthNet, a network of 12 affiliated community health centers; Boston Accountable Care Organization; and Clearway Health, a pharmacy solutions company that helps third-party health systems build and expand specialty pharmacies.