New year, new roles for 4 HFMA members

Four HFMA members began 2025 in new healthcare leadership positions.

Melinda Hancock is new CFO at Sentara Health

Sentara Health has named Melinda Hancock, FHFMA, MBA, CPA, as the health system’s new executive vice president and CFO. Hancock, of Richmond, Va., joined Sentara in 2021 and most recently served as the system’s executive vice president and chief transformation officer. Prior to that, she held senior financial leadership positions at VCU Health System and Bon Secours Health System. A member of HFMA’s Virginia-DC Chapter, Hancock served as the Association’s 2015-16 National Chair.

TriHealth names Todd Anderson as CFO

Following an extensive national search, Todd Anderson, MBA, CPA,was selected as CFO of TriHealth in Cincinnati, Ohio. A member of HFMA’s Wisconsin Chapter, Anderson has more than 25 years of progressive healthcare finance leadership experience. He previously served in CFO positions at both Mercyhealth Corporation, a seven-hospital health system caring for 2.4 million patients in Illinois and Wisconsin, and Kettering Health in Dayton, Ohio.

Geoffrey Gardner joins UF Health

In December, Geoffrey (Geoff) K. Gardner, MAC, CPA, stepped into a new role as executive vice president and system CFO of the UF Health clinical enterprise in Gainesville, Fla. Before the move, Gardner had been with Novant Health in Winston-Salem, N.C., for nearly 16 years. He served in several healthcare finance leadership roles during his tenure at Novant, including as interim CFO. Gardner is a member of HFMA’s North Carolina Chapter.

MHLC taps Marie Wamsley as CEO

Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC) in Darlington, Wis., has a new CEO: Marie Wamsley, FHFMA. Wamsley brings 18 years of healthcare experience to her new role. She began her healthcare career at MHLC and was its CFO from 2008 to 2013. She also has served in financial leadership roles at MercyOne in Dubuque, Iowa, and Midwest Medical Center in Galena, Ill. Wamsley is a member of HFMA’s Wisconsin Chapter. 

In memoriam: Warren Hern and Linda Russell

Former HFMA National Chair Warren Hern, MBA, died Dec. 27, 2024, in Rochester, N.Y., at the age of 72. Hern had a 40-year leadership career, focused on improving healthcare in Rochester and surrounding areas. He served as CFO of Unity Health System for 20 years. It was during that time he also served as HFMA’s 1996-97 National Chair. In 2010, Hern was named Unity’s CEO and ultimately became co-CEO of Rochester Regional Health when Unity merged with Rochester General Hospital. Hern was a member of HFMA’s Rochester Regional Chapter.

Linda Russell, of Rawlins, Wyo., died on Nov. 20, 2024, at the age of 88. Russell is recognized as a trailblazing leader in the accounts receivable management industry. She was the first woman president of ACA International: The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. On behalf of ACA, Russell testified during crucial congressional hearings in 1976 and 1977 regarding the new Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. She also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donohue TV shows to promote the value of the industry. Russell was a past president of the Wyoming HFMA Chapter.