I am pleased to announce that Dr. Timothy Harlin will assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, UTMB Health System, coinciding with the retirement of our current EVP and CEO, Donna Sollenberger. Dr. Harlin will join UTMB on July 15, 2019, and work collaboratively with Donna until her departure on August 31, 2019.

Dr. Harlin has an extensive background in helping complex health care organizations reach their potential in terms of patient experience, clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and growth, and financial stability. He is a collaborative leader who values the strength of teams, and I am confident he will effectively guide and advance our Health System—and our university—in a rapidly evolving environment.

Dr. Harlin currently serves as chief operating and acceleration officer at Denver Health and Hospital Authority in Colorado—a large, mission-driven, academic integrated health system that includes a 555-bed acute care hospital, nine Federally Qualified Health Centers, a health plan, emergency medical services, the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, and correctional care services.

In his current position, he partners with physician leaders to oversee clinical operations, as well as a comprehensive range of critical support areas, such as facilities, information services, security and disaster preparedness, among others. He also leads the development and implementation of the organization’s long-range strategic plan, including its growth initiatives. Denver Health employs more than 7,000 individuals and trains about 1,000 residents and fellows across 16 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The organization also supports 147 principal investigators and last year secured nearly $60 million in grants.

Prior to Denver Health, Dr. Harlin served as Chief Operating Officer at Hennepin Health System in Minneapolis, CEO at Randolph Medical Center in Roanoke, Alabama, and a health care consultant. 

Dr. Harlin is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree at Emory University and a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

We were very pleased with the results of this national search and the strong slate of candidates introduced to UTMB for consideration. I am grateful to all who participated in individual and small-group interviews and provided valuable input in this process, especially search committee co-chairs Carrie King and Dr. Eric Walser.

This is an exciting—and bittersweet—time for UTMB and our Health System. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have Donna Sollenberger at the helm for the past decade, and it is difficult to contemplate the departure of such an iconic leader, not only at UTMB, but in the national health care arena as well. Please join me in thanking her for her wonderful leadership here and during a distinguished career spanning four decades of service.

As you congratulate Donna on her many career successes over the next few months, please also join me in welcoming Dr. Tim Harlin and his wife, Beth, to UTMB and to Texas. We look forward to working with him as our university continues to play a role in shaping the future of health care.

Thank you!

Dr. David L. Callender
President