The Cleveland-based Center for Health Affairs is looking for a new CEO. Timothy Jarm stepped down from his position as president and CEO in December after a year in the position.
Phil Mazanec, the center’s chief operating officer and a 39-year veteran of the metropolitan hospital association, is acting as interim president and CEO. The Center represents Northeast Ohio hospitals, including the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals.
“We appreciate Tim’s service over the past year,” said Heidi Gartland, chair of The Center for Health Affair’s board, in a prepared statement. "The board and Jarm reached the mutual realization that they had a fundamental difference of opinion on how to move the organization forward, and it was jointly decided that Jarm would leave the organization."
Gartland also acknowledged that it is a sudden change, as Jarm began as CEO on Jan. 30, 2017. “A change in leadership is always challenging,” her statement said, “but we’re thrilled that we have in place leadership and staff with the kind of experience and expertise to make this a seamless transition.”
A story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that Jarm was announced as president and CEO of the Center last year after an eight-month search for a replacement for the retiring Bill Ryan. That search involved the services of a nationwide executive search firm, which completed phone interviews with a pool of more than a dozen potential candidates, according to a news release at the time. The executive search committee held in-person second round interviews and the organization's senior leadership team completed interviews with the two finalists.
The Plain Dealer story also said that Jarm, who started his career in Cleveland and worked in hospitals, health systems, state-wide physician practices and a large medical and surgical equipment supplier, most recently was president of hospital management company Alliant Management Services before assuming the top role at The Center.
Mazanec joined The Center for Health Affairs in 1979 as director of pension services and moved rapidly through the ranks, becoming chief operating officer in 2003. As COO, Mazanec oversaw CHAMPS Oncology, which provides cancer program and management services and part of CHAMPS Healthcare, The Center’s business affiliate. He was also responsible for the organization’s human resources, information technology and data resource functions.
“Phil has been a tremendous asset to The Center over the past 39 years and instrumental to our success,” Gartland said. “We are confident in his ability to lead the organization through this transition.”
