Aligning for a Sustainable Healthcare Future
Segments of the U.S. healthcare system often operate at cross purposes, meaning improved alignment will be vital to achieving systemic progress. Fragmentation is apparent not only between payers and providers or clinicians and administrators, but also in the tension between efforts to innovate while keeping care cost-effective, and between formulating policy and putting it into…
People: Mercy CFO Cheryl Matejka retires after more than 35 years in healthcare
Cheryl Matejka, MBA, CFO at St. Louis-based Mercy, is retiring on Dec. 31, 2025, after more than 35 years of providing financial leadership in the healthcare industry. For more than 17 years before joining Mercy, she held various finance roles at St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare, from internal audit to vice president, financial operations and analysis.…
HFMA Empire New York Chapter leverages CRCR crash course to promote pedal tour
When planning its second annual pedal tour, the HFMA Empire New York Chapter also was identifying ways to engage enterprise member Kaleida Health, which joined HFMA in 2024 and brought 233 new members to the Chapter, increasing its membership by more than 20%. To encourage pedal tour attendance and involve its new members, Chapter leaders…
Kiran Batheja: Deliver results. Drive innovation.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon once said, “Whatever you’ve been asked to do, whatever your role is today, do it really well, deliver results, and do it with integrity.” As HFMA members, we know our North Star is delivering results that enable our organizations to serve our patients. Even in the most challenging times, impactful leaders…
Mentorship initiative offers HFMA members career growth opportunities
HFMA kicked off the second six-month-long Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program in September, with nearly 200 HFMA members participating in each cohort after the April-October 2024 pilot program proved successful. “We allow up to 100 pairs for each cohort,” said Brianna Slominski, MBA, HFMA’s manager, volunteer experience. “So it’s important for HFMA members who want to…
Jill Geisler: How leaders can help their staffs navigate ambiguity
Managing change has long been a common topic for me in my teaching sessions. After all, change is a constant. But recently, I’ve been asked to help leaders with something related but different: ambiguity. More than ever, it seems, leaders are managing in a climate of unknowns, with uncertainties lying around the corner. Factors driving…
People: Alyson Belz recognized as a member of 40 Under 40 Class of 2025
Selected from hundreds of fellow nominees, Alyson Belz, FHFMA, MBA, has been named to Crain’s New York Business 40 under 40, which highlights dynamic young professionals across industries who demonstrate meaningful leadership in their communities. The honor caps Belz’s more than a decade of leadership experience focused on improving outcomes and reducing inefficiencies. She currently…
Jill Geisler: 10 questions that can help you lead people who are smarter than you
Wise leaders know that they may be smart about many things, but they don’t have to be the smartest person in every room. They lead with confidence and humility and aren’t intimidated by colleagues whose expertise surpasses their own. That’s not always easy. Managers often tell me they worry about building credibility with subject matter…
Arizona and Iowa Chapters partner to help HFMA members achieve certifications
The Arizona and Iowa Chapters held their second joint virtual HFMA certification bootcamp in July, where an estimated 373 participants signed up to prepare for the Certified Healthcare Finance Professional (CHFP) exam. “Virtual events allow us to reach a wider audience, making participation more accessible across all chapters and regions,” said Nicole Helfrich, the former…
Nathan Kaufman: How silos undermine U.S. healthcare
Healthcare systems are plagued by fragmented silos that result in suboptimal outcomes and increased costs, but by assigning a directly responsible individual and using real-time dashboards, health systems can optimize overall performance and improve quality of care.