CommonSpirit Health Hires Suja Chandrasekaran as Chief Information and Digital Officer

Nonprofit health system CommonSpirit Health announced last week that it has hired former Kimberly-Clark Corporation CIO Suja Chandrasekaran as its first chief information and digital officer (CIDO). In this role, Chandrasekaran will spearhead the integration and modernization of the technology systems that connect the 142 hospitals and over 700 care sites in the CommonSpirit Health network.

In particular, Chandrasekaran is expected to play a key role in furthering CommonSpirit Health’s efforts to bolster the interoperability between the health system’s previously independent technology systems. One of her main focuses will be redesigning business processes utilizing forward-looking technology and operating models that can connect CommonSpirit Health’s 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians.

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Chandrasekaran comes to CommonSpirit Health from the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. As CIO there, she was responsible for developing and leading global strategy and deployment of digital technology, artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity, enterprise applications and technology infrastructures. Prior to joining Kimberly-Clark, Chandrasekaran also held IT leadership positions at Walmart, Nestle and The Timberland Company.

Following the announcement of her new role, Chandrasekaran released a statement: “I believe technology can play a unique role in health care. By linking CommonSpirit Health’s clinical and digital strategies and modernizing work processes, we can free up time for our physicians and staff to focus on their number one priority—the patient.”

Chandrasekaran’s appointment was lauded by CommonSpirit Health’s CEO Kevin Lofton: “Suja’s experience driving technology and digital transformations across major consumer-driven corporations will set the trend for how we integrate today’s emerging technologies into a health system. To truly change health care in our country, we need the very best leaders at the table. Suja has a distinct vision to accelerate the development of innovative operating capabilities and new digital pathways to support our people as they deliver the highest quality of care to our patients.”

Formed through a merger of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health last February, CommonSpirit Health is a $29 billion nonprofit Catholic health system operating in 21 states that is now the largest nonprofit health system in the country by revenue. In addition to its 142 hospitals and more than 700 care sites, the health system also administers virtual care services, living communities, home health programs and research programs.