Providence updates leadership structure to better serve communities

RENTON, Wash., Jan. 19, 2021 – Providence, one of the largest health systems in the country, today announced a new leadership structure that will allow the organization to deliver highly coordinated care. There will be two new regional leadership roles responsible for the northern and southern portions of Providence’s seven-state footprint, and both will report to Rod Hochman, M.D., president and CEO of Providence.

Lisa Vance, who currently serves as chief executive of Oregon, will take on a new role as president of operations and strategy for the northern regions Providence serves: Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Montana. Lisa will continue to serve as chief executive for the Oregon region.

Erik Wexler, who currently serves as chief executive of Southern California, will take on the role of president of operations and strategy for the southern regions that Providence serves: Northern California, Southern California, Texas and New Mexico. Given the complexity of Southern California and the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis in that region, Providence backfilled Erik’s current position and is pleased to announce that effective March 1, Kevin Manemann, chief executive, physician enterprise, will become the chief executive of Southern California.

Another key change announced today is Greg Hoffman will serve as the organization’s chief financial officer, starting immediately. Greg, who has been serving as Providence’s interim CFO since August, 2020, most recently served as chief transformation officer, where his collaboration with fellow leaders modernized administrative and care delivery services and improved outcomes over the last two years. Greg has been instrumental in building and integrating the financial planning and analysis function, including budgeting, reporting, cost accounting, reimbursement and productivity across the Providence family of organizations. He also identified new ways to measure and manage value in a rapidly evolving health care environment.

Lastly, Jo Ann Escasa-Haigh will serve in a new role – chief integration officer – and she will report directly to Dr. Hochman. When Providence and St. Joseph Health came together in 2016, Jo Ann led our integration work, making her uniquely qualified to serve as our chief integration officer.

Most recently, Jo Ann led Providence’s COVID operations recovery work, helping the organization begin to return to pre-COVID financial stability. Jo Ann is deeply committed to our Mission and is a member of the Center for Spiritual Development Advisory Council for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. She is frequently called upon to speak in our formation programs and pilgrimages and is a mentor to many young women aspiring to leadership roles in our ministry. Jo Ann will also continue serving as chief financial officer for operations and business development, working directly with Greg.

About Providence  
Providence is a national, not-for-profit Catholic health system comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, 1,085 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 120,000 caregivers serving communities across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, with system offices in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif. Learn about our vision of health for a better world at Providence.org.