
Jennifer Mitzner has been named Baylor Scott & White Health’s new CFO and executive vice president. She will oversee the health system’s finance, accounting, and revenue cycle functions and will replace interim CFO Carroll Aulbaugh, who led the finance team at Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System.
Mitzner was previously the executive vice president at Hoag Health—a California-based hospital system—and CEO of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute. Before that, she was CFO of St. Joseph Hoag Health and began her career as a healthcare advisor with accounting firm KPMG.
Last year’s pause on elective procedures was difficult for many health systems’ finances. In January, BSWH outsourced and retrained 1,700 workers during the pandemic, expecting to save $600 million in the process. The health system eliminated around 600 jobs, offering the employees retraining to stay with Baylor. In December 2020, Baylor laid off 102 employees in the finance and accounting department and outsourced the positions to Inida. This followed a larger round of layoffs in June, when 930 Baylor employees were let go and 300 senior leaders took 25 percent pay cuts.
“Maintaining a strong financial position is critical to our ability to deliver on our mission—caring for patients and health plan members across Texas,” said Pete McCanna, president of Baylor Scott & White via release. “I am confident that Jennifer’s nearly three decades of strategic, financial and operational experience will be invaluable, helping to extend our legacy of service.”
In October of 2020, Penny Cermak left her role as BSWH CFO after 16 months on the job, paving the way for Aulbaugh to take over until Mitzner’s appointment this spring. Mitzner will formally begin her post on June 1.
Mitzner went to college at Texas Christian University and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of San Francisco.