Press Release – The VNSNY Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Christopher T. Olivia, M.D. will be our organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, starting on January 1, 2017. Chris brings exceptionally strong and diverse leadership skills to his new position. In addition to his experience as a physician, Chris holds an MBA degree and has worked as a health care industry executive for 25 years, collaborating closely with clinicians and administrative staff at all levels of the health care industry. Most recently, Chris served as President of Continuum Care Alliance in New Jersey, a company that works with physician practices to create clinically integrated networks. Prior to that, he led the transformation of two major regional health systems. From 2000 to 2008, he headed the Cooper Health System, the only academic tertiary medical center in southern New Jersey, first as President and then as CEO. In 2008, Chris became President and CEO of the West Penn Allegheny Health System, a six-hospital, 1,000-physician medical group in western Pennsylvania with more than 13,000 employees and nearly 500 residents and fellows. There, he navigated the health system through the financial downturn of 2008 and then went on to engineer a remarkable operational turnaround, positioning the company for its successful 2013 merger with Highmark, a major regional insurance company.
Over the course of his career, Chris has worked in virtually every aspect of health care, while also finding occasions to teach, mentor, and serve as a faculty member in his specialty of ophthalmology. In coming to VNSNY, he brings a commitment to giving back to the community and a deep interest in developing innovative methods of care delivery. Chris is also known for his ability to create a positive and constructive working environment where all members of the workforce can grow professionally and thrive. In short, he is ideally suited to take the helm of this outstanding organization, and to advance its historic mission moving forward.
