Hartz Search Recruits Chief Administrative Officer for East Jefferson General Hospital 

October 12, 2021 – After an extensive national search, Charlotte, NC-based Hartz Search has helped to place Jennifer Parks as chief administrative officer of Louisiana Children’s Medical Center Health (LCMC Health) and East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH). Ms. Parks will strategically plan, lead, and manage all business aspects of the EJGH’s physician group. EJGH, which recently joined the LCMC Health family of hospitals, is a 420-bed acute care facility in Jefferson Parrish with 3,000 full-time employees and 650 physicians on staff. Ms. Parks will report directly to Richard Tanzella, president and chief executive officer of EJGH.

The role called for at least seven years of healthcare administration experience in a large and complex setting with direct responsibility for cost/revenue centers, designing and implementing business plans, and managing staff in a hospital or clinic setting. Candidates were also expected to have five years of experience leading complex strategic initiatives, which impact multiple service lines, and levels of leadership. Five years of progressive responsibility in a progressively responsible management position was also required.

Strong Experience

The new chief administrative officer most recently served Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH), Texas’ largest not-for-profit healthcare system. Ms. Parks had been with BSWH since 2014. In her most recent role, she had direct operational oversight of a primary care network including internal medicine, family practice, geriatrics, pediatrics and additional specialties for her region. Among her many accomplishments, she was a core team member for vaccine state-designated vaccine HUB for the system and was part of the “Snap Back” leadership team with the practice enterprise post-COVID shutdown.

Ms. Parks earned her bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and her MBA in management from Mercer University. She is a mentor with ACHE, a fellow with FACHE, a member of the Medical Group Management Association, and a past alumni board member at the Stetson School of Business.

LCMC Health is a non-profit network of healthcare providers in Southern Louisiana headquartered in New Orleans. Members include academic centers, acute care facilities and research hospitals. EJGH is an award-winning hospital with a five-time magnet designation, five-star CMS rating, CareChex No.1 ranking and the No. 2 brand in the New Orleans market.

Respected Recruiters

Established in 2017, HARTZ Search is an executive search firm centered on the healthcare and higher education sectors. In addition to its headquarters in Charlotte, the firm has regional offices in Dallas and San Diego, CA.

CEO Mike Hartz’s diverse background in executive and physician search has given him unique experience in working with executives and physicians within the healthcare and higher education industries. During his 15 years in executive search, he has recruited over 200 executives and physicians nationwide. He has used his background in customer service, business operations and knowledge of national healthcare market trends in recruitment, practice management and physician services to solidify his track record in recruiting for healthcare systems, facilities and physician practices ranging in size from small rural to large medical centers.

Late last year, HARTZ Search also placed Mr. Tanzella as CEO for EJGH. He started his new role in February. Mr. Tanzella is charged with leading over 3,000 staff members and leaders and a $100 million capital transformation.  He brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to the role, most recently with Piedmont Healthcare Inc., a $4 billion integrated healthcare system in Atlanta that includes 11 acute care hospitals with more than 2,500 beds, the Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Transplant Institute, Piedmont Physicians Group and the Piedmont Clinic.

Starting in 2017, he served as CEO of Piedmont Rockdale Hospital. During his tenure, he directed the transaction and transition of the first for-profit hospital into the Piedmont Healthcare system. He also led the financial and cultural transformation of the hospital, focusing on quality, safety, and service with a focus on accountability and team/talent building.

Prior to that, he served as chief operations officer of the Piedmont Physician Enterprise, which included more than 2,500 providers, and was vice president of cardiovascular services for Piedmont Hospital.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media