Furst Group Assists CommonSpirit Health with CFO Search
November 24, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Browning as system senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of CommonSpirit Health in Chicago. He will succeed Daniel Morissette, who is retiring after nearly a decade of distinguished service.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael to CommonSpirit Health. He is a seasoned financial leader with a profound understanding of complex healthcare systems and a proven track record of driving financial strength and strategic growth,” said Wright Lassiter, CommonSpirit Health CEO. “His expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we work to navigate a complex and evolving healthcare landscape and deliver on our mission.”
Mr. Browning brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare finance. Most recently, he served as EVP and CFO at OhioHealth, a $7.5 billion health system with 19 hospitals. During his tenure at OhioHealth, Mr. Browning was instrumental in maintaining strong financial performance, significantly growing cash reserves from $4.9 billion to $8.6 billion, and upholding AA+/Aa2 bond ratings, all while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led a long-term growth strategy resulting in 74 percent revenue growth, the addition of six hospitals, and 16 joint ventures.
Prior to OhioHealth, Mr. Browning held senior financial leadership positions at ProMedica Health System, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Parkview Health, and McLeod Health, where he consistently delivered robust financial performance, executed strategic growth initiatives, and optimized financial operations across diverse non-profit and integrated health systems.
As CFO, Mr. Browning will oversee all financial operations for CommonSpirit Health, which operates 138 hospitals and more than 2,200 care sites across 24 states. He will be responsible for the health system’s financial strategy, planning, accounting, treasury, reimbursement, revenue cycle, and investor relations.
Commitment to its Mission
“I am honored to join CommonSpirit Health, an organization with an unwavering commitment to its mission and a truly impactful scale,” Mr. Browning said.. “I look forward to collaborating with Wright and the entire leadership team to advance financial strategy, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure CommonSpirit Health is well-positioned for sustainable growth and continued service to our communities.”
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As one of the nation’s largest non-profit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 138 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 160,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $5 billion annually in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed government programs.
Furst Group Tapped by PracticeWise for CEO Search
Furst Group has been retained by PracticeWise to lead in its search for a new CEO to guide the company into its next phase of growth and impact. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who shares that passion and is eager to help strengthen behavioral healthcare for children and adolescents by supporting the providers and systems who serve them. “Grateful for our partnership with PracticeWise on this search,” Furst Group said in a LinkedIn post. “Engagements like these reinforce the why that drives our work – connecting passionate leaders with opportunities to positively impact healthcare and strengthen our communities.”
Furst Group, headquartered in Rockford, IL, partners with many of the premier healthcare organizations in the world, from providers and payers to life-science companies and private equity/venture capital firms. While Furst Group’s roots are in managed care, the firm continues to be one of the nation’s leading executive search partners to health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, post-acute, and hospice and palliative care facilities. Its work with insurers stretches back to the HMO era, yet the firm also teams with life science, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. Furst Group also has offices in Phoenix, AZ; Radnor, PA; San Francisco; Brentwood, TN; Chicago; Irving, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle; St. Louis; and Washington, D.C.
Bob Clarke, chairman of Furst Group, has been a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards for more than 30 years. His acumen in executive search and integrated talent management is valued by hospital systems, managed care organizations, medical groups, indemnity companies, end-of-life care providers, healthcare associations, and other medical delivery systems across the U.S. Mr. Clarke concentrates his work at the board and C-suite levels for providers and payers of every variety, creating recruitment processes and counseling boards and search committees. He also partners with boards of directors of healthcare organizations to manage C-suite transitions, develop succession plans, assess leadership teams, and implement leadership development programs.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
