University of Iowa Health Care CFO leaving for Emory

IOWA CITY — After three years as part of University of Iowa Health Care’s new administrative team, Chief Financial Officer Bradley Haws on Friday is leaving UIHC for the same position at Emory Healthcare — which is part of Emory University in Atlanta.

That has UIHC — coming off an unparalleled season of COVID-compelled tumult and still adjusting to a post-pandemic reality — relying again on interim leadership while a search committee, with the help of consultant Witt Kieffer, launches a national hunt for Haws’ successor.

Mark Henrichs — who’s been serving as chief financial officer for UI Hospitals and Clinics since around the time Haws arrived in summer 2018 — will step in Saturday as interim CFO of the entire UI Health Care enterprise.

Before Haws arrived in August 2018, former UI Treasurer Doug True served as interim UI Health Care associate vice president and CFO for more than a year — after previous UI Health Care CFO Ken Fisher left July 4, 2017, having spent a decade in the role.

Other top UIHC administrators followed Fisher’s departure — including former Vice President of Medical Affairs and UI College of Medicine Dean Jean Robillard, who left in October 2017, and UI Hospitals and Clinics CEO Ken Kates, who left in summer 2018.

The UI hired Brooks Jackson to succeed Robillard in fall 2017; Haws to succeed Fisher in summer 2018; and then Suresh Gunasekaran to succeed Kates in November 2018.

Before overseeing the complex financials of UI Health Care — which encompasses UI Hospitals and Clinics, UI Physicians, and the Carver College of Medicine — Haws had spent 13 years with the University of Virginia health system. He most recently served as chief executive officer for the UVA Physicians Group, a multispecialty practice of 1,000-plus physicians and health professionals.

Before Virginia, Haws had a long career as CFO of Intermountain Health Care Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah — the state in which he earned a Master of Business Administration and bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University.

At Iowa, Haws oversaw all UIHC financial operations — including its revenue cycle, debt structure management, investment strategy, third-party contracting, and financial risk management.

During the last UIHC presentation to the Board of Regents in early July, Haws reported the health care enterprise had bounced back after fiscal 2020 losses and 2021 projected losses in the millions from COVID cuts and new expenses.

Instead of being in the red, UIHC revenue was nearly 3 percent above budget through the end of March. Its operating margin was 5.1 percent and its operating income was nearly $83 million — 11 percent over budget and 37 percent over the same period last year.

In announcing Haws’ departure, UIHC leadership said Haws helped develop a new funding model, revitalize the system’s revenue cycle and innovate — like on the new UI Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital.

UIHC officials also credited Haws for collaborating with the broader campus on its $1.165 billion public-private partnership for the operation of its utility system.

“During his tenure with UI Health Care, Brad has contributed greatly and provided tremendous value to our organization,” Vice President Jackson said in a statement. “I am grateful for Brad’s leadership and partnership. Thanks to his efforts, UI Health Care is well positioned to achieve new heights of excellence.”

Acknowledging the challenges this last year presented, UIHC officials said Haws “played an important role in stabilizing UI Health Care finances so that the organization could emerge from the crisis on solid financial footing.”

Haws’ last day at Iowa is Friday. He begins at Emory on Aug. 17.

In taking his place temporarily, UIHC Interim CFO Henrichs brings experience from multiple financial leadership roles.

“Over the years, Henrichs has played an integral role in working on growth initiatives and managing revenue and expenses to assure success of the health enterprise,” according to the announcement of his interim appointment.

In the last year, specifically, Henrichs “worked to maintain the organization’s financial stability through the pandemic, including coordinating processes for CARES Act funding and working with operational leaders on managing volumes through a turbulent time.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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