Massini to become new Penn State Health CEO

The Penn State Health Board of Directors has appointed Stephen M. Massini to the role of chief executive officer for Penn State Health. The appointment becomes effective upon the retirement of current CEO Dr. A. Craig Hillemeier, who recently announced his plans to step down in summer 2019.

Massini serves as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Penn State Health, a role he has held since 2016. He joined Penn State Health as the chief financial officer for the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the system’s flagship teaching and research hospital, before promotion to his current role.

“Steve Massini has been a transformative leader for Penn State Health since he joined our health system in 2015. He has been central to the expansion of our clinical presence across our region and the development of innovative partnerships, like our collaboration with Highmark,” said Kathleen Casey, Penn State Health Board Chair. “The Board of Directors has tremendous confidence in Steve’s ability to establish a bold vision for the future of Penn State Health, and to deliver on our promise to expand access to clinical services and enhance the quality and value of the care we provide.”

As CEO, Massini will oversee the $2.3 billion clinical enterprise of Penn State Health, including the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Penn State Health St. Joseph in Berks County, and Penn State Health Medical Group, which includes more than 2,000 clinical providers at 127 practices in nine counties.

“It is incredibly humbling to be asked to lead an organization of more than 14,000 dedicated people whose central purpose is improving the health and well-being of others,” Massini said. “Penn State Health is a vibrant and growing health enterprise. As CEO I want to reinforce our commitment to provide care of the highest quality and value, bring care closer to home for those we serve, build relationships with our community, and support our vital mission to advance medicine through research and educate the next generation of care providers. I want to foster a culture that recognizes the essential contributions of the many hard-working and dedicated people who make Penn State Health the thriving service organization it is.”

Unlike his predecessors, who have held the dual roles of chief executive of the university’s health care enterprise and dean of Penn State College of Medicine, Massini will serve solely as the CEO of Penn State Health. The Penn State Health Board of Directors and University Trustees recently established the positions as two distinct roles to support the ongoing growth and evolving functions of both entities. The University will conduct a separate search for a new dean of the College of Medicine.

“Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine have a shared destiny,” Massini said. “The success of one enterprise is intrinsically linked to the success of the other. I look forward to working closely with the new dean to advance our shared missions of teaching, research, service and the provision of excellent patient care.”

Prior to joining Penn State Health, Massini worked for Geisinger Health System in multiple roles, including chief administrative officer and chief financial officer for Geisinger Clinic, which employed more than 1,100 physicians and 675 mid-level providers, and included more than 80 primary and specialty clinic sites and two outpatient surgery centers.

From 1997-2009, Massini held various leadership positions within the Highmark family of companies. His roles included executive vice president and chief financial officer of HVHC, a subsidiary of Highmark focused on providing vision services, including retail optical stores and insurance products. He was responsible for all aspects of finance, including accounting and financial reporting, treasury, corporate development, financial planning and analysis, tax and investor relations. He managed three separate divisional CFOs and a combined staff of 75 finance professionals.

He also served for five years as director of mergers and acquisitions and investor relations for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield from 1997 to 2002. Massini’s resume also includes 12 years of experience with the public accounting and auditing firm Ernst and Young.

Massini is a Penn State alumnus, having earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting with honors in 1985. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Massini and his wife, Shari, who is also a Penn State graduate, live in Harrisburg. They are parents of three daughters: Ashley, who currently works as a pediatric oncology nurse in Philadelphia; Kelsie, a Penn State alumnus who works as an attorney serving victims of abuse; and Emily, who is a sophomore at Penn State’s University Park campus.

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