Westmont Search Places Chief Transformation Officer for Essentia Health
October 13, 2021 – Executive search firm Westmont Search has placed Karyn Baum as chief transformation officer of Essentia Health in Duluth, MN. As CTO she will be responsible for leading clinicians in process improvement and innovation across the Essentia Health System. The search was conducted by Peter Blau, managing partner and Carolyn Lecocq, search director. Most recently, Dr. Baum served as vice president of system clinical operations for MHealth Fairview, where she developed centralized mechanisms for addressing delayed transfers into the system and tracking diverted patients. She is also serving the State of Minnesota as a director for the Critical Care Coordination Center (C4) that manages and centralizes the states resources and clinical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Dr. Baum served as interim chief medical officer, associate chief medical officer and executive medical director for UM Health.
Dr. Baum earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, medical doctorate from the University of Michigan, master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California and her master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. Essentia Health has healthcare facilities across Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota with its headquarters in Duluth. The network provides patients with more than 2,100 practitioners and physicians. It also includes 14 hospitals, 69 clinics, six long-term care facilities, three assisted living facilities, three independent living facilities, five ambulance services and one research institute.
Healthcare-Focused Recruiters
Westmont Search, located in Westmont, NJ, is a healthcare-focused executive search firm with a singular focus of hiring top health executives to continue to improve the healthcare system. Westmont Search specializes in recruiting and placing leadership positions in finance, operations, information technology and management professionals for hospitals, managed care, healthcare providers and insurance companies.
Since 2006, Mr. Blau has been recruiting leadership for healthcare organizations. He works with both healthcare provider and managed care organizations throughout the U.S. Mr. Blau and the team have placed over 300 executives and professionals within healthcare organizations.
Ms. Lecocq specializes in full life cycle recruiting for highly experienced executive-level talent and focuses on provider and payer leadership positions, public affairs and marketing, provider network management, pharmacy and government affairs. She also manages candidate pipelines and research development and works with clients and candidates on a variety of projects.
Recent Placements
Westmont Search recently placed Rhonda Kazik as the chief nursing officer for Essentia Health’s East market based in Duluth, MN. Most recently, Ms. Kazik was the system chief nursing officer at Community Health Systems in Fresno, CA. She has also held executive nurse leadership roles at the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics.
Westmont Search also recently placed Cindy Bacskai as vice president of talent management at Essentia Health. Ms. Bacskai had been vice president human resources business partner with Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee. Essentia Health is a network of 13 hospitals, 69 clinics, six long-term care facilities, three assisted living facilities, three independent living facilities, five ambulance services and one research institute.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
