PRESS RELEASES

Cintron Named CEO of University Medical Center of El Paso

OAK BROOK, IL, July 15, 2016 — Newly-hire UMC CEO Jacob Cintron will earn $480,000 a year, according to an employment agreement obtained by ABC-7.

Cintron, a former University Medical Center of El Paso Associate, was selected by the UMC Board of Managers last week. He is expected to begin working for the county hospital Monday, July 25.

Cintron is a former CEO at Del Sol Hospital. He replaces Jim Valenti, who is retiring after nearly 12 years leading the county hospital.

Cintron is no stranger to the county hospital. He was hired by the then called Thomason Hospital at the age of 17.

Cintron was employed at Thomason Hospital for nearly 17 years.

Cintron went on to receive three degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso. The native El Pasoan has worked executive positions in the healthcare industry in San Diego, Chicago and San Antonio.

“We are confident Mr. Cintron will effectively lead University Medical Center of El Paso forward and help create a system of care here in our community.  We look forward to working with him, our community, physicians, and the children we serve,” said  George Caralis, El Paso Children’s Hospital Interim President & CEO.

County Commissioner David Stout who has helped advise UMC in the past said the newly appointed CEO was a good fit but Cintron will still face challenges.

“I think one of the challenges is going to be gaining people’s trust and loyalty. I know that a lot of people working at UMC were loyal to Valenti,” Stout said.

Some employees at UMC say they are already looking forward to working with Cintron. Nurses working at the hospital recently started a union.

“In talking to our colleagues at Del Sol Medical Center, we know he has a track record of respecting workers’ choice to form a union and of building relationships between union workers and management. We look forward to working with him to provide the best possible care to the community we all love,” said Robyn Wylie, a respiratory therapist at UMC.

In January, UMC’s board of directors approved $175,000 to hire the Witt-Kieffer Firm to spearhead the search for a new CEO.

UMC did not immediately reveal Cintron’s salary Tuesday.

About Witt/Kieffer

Witt/Kieffer is among the nation’s top ten executive search firms and the single largest specializing in healthcare, education and not-for-profit organizations. Witt/Kieffer’s mission is to identify outstanding leadership solutions for organizations committed to improving the quality of life. The firm serves hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and other health-related organizations; life sciences companies including pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics and medical device corporations; colleges and universities and not-for-profit community service organizations and foundations.

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Jeanne Farrell
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