University of Iowa appoints new leader of Mercy Iowa City integration

IOWA CITY — As the University of Iowa continues its takeover of Mercy Iowa City, administrators are sharing more details about the transition — including the appointment this week of Deborah Berini to lead management and integration with the now-bankrupt community hospital.

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Berini — with more than two decades experience leading health systems like Penn State Health, the University of Texas Medical Branch Health System and University of Wisconsin Health — will start as UIHC chief integration officer and interim chief administrative officer Jan. 2.

In addition to leading all aspects of Mercy’s integration with UI Health Care, Berini will provide “on-site leadership at Mercy Iowa City’s campus and support ongoing operations during the transition after the transaction is complete.”

She'll report to Emily Blomberg, chief operating officer of UI Hospitals and Clinics and executive sponsor of the Mercy Iowa City integration steering committee, and Berini will collaborate with the designated integration team “to allow for a successful transition.”

“Deborah’s expertise in leading large health care organizations through hospital acquisitions and periods of significant change, while maintaining high employee engagement and quality care, will be a valuable asset as we integrate Mercy Iowa City’s workforce and patient care operations with UI Health Care,” Blomberg said in a statement.

Berini’s new UIHC salary wasn’t immediately made public.

Among other details of the transition, UIHC recently shared Mercy employees who officially start as UIHC workers Jan. 31 will get their first monthly paycheck March 1. They’ll get their final Mercy paycheck Feb. 9.

Background

UI Health Care reported Berini, in her most recent role with the Chartis Center for Burnout Solutions, “advises health care institutions nationwide in effectively managing burnout in staff and physicians, making a meaningful impact on well-being and overall performance.”

The Chartis Center confirmed she has been an independent contractor with the center since February 2023.

Berini, on her LinkedIn page, reported serving as a senior consultant for Chartis from January 2023 to the present. From May 2022 to present, Berini reported serving as founder and CEO of her own Berini Consulting Group, which she registered in Pennsylvania in December 2022.

Before that, she was president of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center from September 2018 to August 2022.

Prior to her time at Penn State, Berini was chief operating officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch Health System in Galveston.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com