Meet Our CEO
Brian Erling, MD, MBA President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Erling is a seasoned healthcare executive with over twenty years of experience in diverse healthcare settings. During his career, he has led teams at not-for-profit hospitals, integrated health systems, physician practices and publicly-traded healthcare companies.
Before joining Renown Health in November 2022, Dr. Erling served as a healthcare executive with Centura Health in Denver. His roles during his tenure at Centura Health included Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer and most recently President & CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. A highly experienced emergency medicine physician, Dr. Erling has long been a leader in quality improvement and is a Baldrige Executive Fellow through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Meet Our CEO Meet Our CEOChris Bosse, CHIEF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICER
Chris Bosse has worked in healthcare and for Renown Health for more than two decades. As Chief Government Relations Officer for Renown Health, Chris is responsible for developing strategic relationships between Renown Health and government and community bodies. She is also responsible for educating federal and state legislators, government, and community leaders about healthcare and the issues that put Renown's services at risk. Before her role in government relations, she focused primarily on financial projects as Vice President of Finance for Renown Regional Medical Center and Vice President of Financial Operations for Renown's Integrated Health Network. This included traditional financial responsibilities such as financial reporting and budgeting to more healthcare-specific obligations such as reimbursement, medical records, admitting, social services and case management. She serves on the Nevada Hospital Association, HealthInsight Nevada, HealthInsight Management Corporation, HealtHIE Nevada, and Northern Nevada HOPES boards.
Paul Harris, CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL
Paul R. Harris serves as the Chief Legal Officer for Renown Health. Paul is responsible for providing legal counsel and guidance to the health system, advising senior leadership on legal matters, and supervising the health network's representation in legal proceedings. Paul served as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at CentraCare Health, a not-for-profit integrated health system in St. Cloud, Minn. He has more than 30 years of legal experience, including oversight of legal and compliance, government relations, risk and team management, as well as serving in private practice. Paul is a member of numerous professional associations and currently serves as counsel and advisory on several professional and community boards.
Paul J. Hauptman, MD Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Paul J. Hauptman is a cardiologist and nationally recognized investigator in outcomes assessment in advanced heart failure. He has served in many academic leadership roles prior to coming to Reno, most recently as Dean at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine-Knoxville and Chief Academic Officer at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. As Chief Academic Officer for Renown Health and Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, his role reflects the cornerstone of the 50-year affiliation and oversees the integrated clinical education and clinical research enterprises shared by the two institutions.
Suzanne Bharati Hendery, MA, APR, CPXP CHIEF MARKETING & CUSTOMER OFFICER
Suzanne has over 25 years of experience as a health care executive specializing in listening to- and engaging key stakeholders to create engaging communications and exceptional experiences that delight customers and transform organizations. She is a nationally recognized leader in successfully implementing customer-centered, enterprise-wide digital transformation and branding efforts to build preference, loyalty and drive revenue and growth.
Hendery earned her M.A. in Marketing Communications from the University of Connecticut, is a lecturer at Harvard University, a member of the American Marketing Association Health Care Executive Board, Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America, serves as a national board member for the American Hospital Association’s Board of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, and is a co-chair and founder of their Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging Committee. Hendery was selected as the 2020 "Marketing Person of the Year” by the Healthcare and IT Marketing Community (HITMC), and appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of Strategic Health Care Marketing in 2021. Hendery and her teams have won numerous international and national awards for their outstanding contributions and best practices in healthcare marketing, branding, patient experience and community engagement programs.
Suzanne is a frequent contributor and speaker for the American Marketing Association, HIMSS, The Forum for Healthcare Strategists, the Healthcare Executive Forum, American Hospital Association, Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD), Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit, Becker’s, Modern Healthcare.
Access Suzanne's complete biography and the articles she has authored.
Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA CHIEF Executive OFFICER, Medical Group
Rahul Mediwala, MD, is a nephrologist and physician executive who has been with Renown Medical Group since 2008 with a focus on driving operational efficiency and quality. He initially joined Renown to lead the nephrology program and as a Medical Director for the dialysis unit. He is now the Chief Medical Officer of the Health Services Division. Over the years, Dr. Mediwala has taken on various leadership roles throughout the health system, such as the Chair of Medical Specialties and Chief Medical Officer for the Renown Accountable Care Organization.
Dr. Mediwala has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in biomedical engineering and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. Before coming to Renown, he served as chief resident for Internal Medicine at University Hospitals in Cincinnati and subsequently completed a nephrology fellowship in Cincinnati. He also practiced with a large nephrology specialty group in Ohio.
Chris Nicholas, FACHE, LNFA Chief Executive Officer, RENOWN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Chris Nicholas completed his bachelor’s degree in business management at Texas Tech University and has a master’s of science in healthcare administration from the University of Texas, Arlington.
Chris began his career in healthcare as a skilled nursing facility administrator operating multiple facilities in Texas and Nevada before transitioning to inpatient rehabilitation hospital leadership with Renown Health in 2016.
Over the last seven years, Chris has served Renown by building high-performing teams and leaders focused on driving quality, service and financial outcomes. Before serving in his current position, Chris was VP & Administrator of Renown South Meadows Medical Center and Neuroscience Service Line. He was also the Senior Administrator of Rehab Services, leading post-acute services and partnerships. Chris started his career with Renown as an Administrator of Rehabilitation Services.
His wife Denise and young daughter Maddi love calling Reno home. As an avid outdoors person, Chris enjoys the many opportunities and access to hiking, mountain biking and snowboarding that Reno provides.
Chris’ dedication to improving healthcare using data, innovation and technology has inspired teams to work together to achieve significant results that have benefited many.
Melodie Osborn, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nurse Executive
Melodie Osborn is the Chief Nurse Executive for Renown Health, responsible for the organization's nursing practices. As a member of the executive leadership, she supports and facilitates patient-centered care by creating an environment that promotes high quality and consistency in the standard of practice across Renown Health. In addition, she serves as the executive nursing voice for more than 2,700 nurses.
Before joining Renown Health in 2011, Melodie served as the Administrative Director for Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Nevada, Reno, and received her MBA in Health Care Administration from Columbia Southern University.
In 2015, Melodie was elected President of the Nevada Organization of Nurse Leaders. She is currently the advisor of the Nevada Organization for Nurse Leaders, a statewide organization that fosters the development of nurse leaders through mentorship, collaboration and education.
William "Bill" Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE Chief Medical Officer and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at UNR Med
As Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health, Dr. Plauth is responsible for continuous quality improvement, effective clinical resource management and serves as a liaison for organized medical staff activities. He partners with nursing leadership to actively support performance improvement, risk management, and efficient resource utilization linked to evidence-based medicine. Dr. Plauth also provides expertise, coordination and leadership in support of elected medical staff leaders and partners with UNR Med leadership to ensure a positive training environment across Renown Health.
As Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Plauth joins UNR Med to provide strategic consultation with UNR Med's Office of Academic Affairs and Office of Medical Research to foster clinical settings that promote and enhance medical education and clinical research within the affiliation. His role is also integral to UNR Med's accreditation and strategic planning process.
Dr. Plauth brings over 30 years of experience in multiple leadership roles, including as Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Regional Medical Center and Centura Penrose & St. Francis Hospitals, all in Colorado. Previously, Dr. Plauth served for fourteen years with CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, NM, first as a hospitalist and then as Chief of Staff, Medical Director of Clinical Informatic, Medical Director of Palliative Care, and Acting Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Medical Staff Affairs. He has also served as a medical director of a long-term care and skilled nursing facility.
Dr. Plauth received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and his M.D. degree from Emory University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at the University of California San Francisco, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Plauth is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Palliative Care.
Chuck Podesta, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Charles (Chuck) Podesta has more than 37 years of experience working in information technology (IT), 26 of which he served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at healthcare organizations across the country, including at the University of California Irvine Health, University of Vermont Health Network, Steward Health in Texas and Berkshire Health System in Massachusetts. Chuck joined Renown Health from the University of Connecticut Health System.
As CIO of Renown Health, Chuck leads our patient-oriented IT teams and develops technological innovation strategies that drive financial and quality improvement. In addition to his strategic involvement leading healthcare IT organizations at academic medical centers, health systems and community hospitals, Chuck also brings expertise in spearheading programs and solutions related to cybersecurity, virtual care and analytics.
Chuck is an avid marathon runner for various charities including cancer research, Multiple Sclerosis, Teams for Kids, Alzheimer’s and other rehabilitation programs across the country. He has completed the Abbott Six-Star World Major Marathons which include Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo.
He volunteers for Catholic Charities USA and is active in his church. In addition, Chuck is a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society as well as the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the Society for Information Management.
Sandeep Randhawa, Chief People Officer
Mr. Randhawa came to Renown Health from CommonSpirit Health where he served both as System Vice President for Human Resources Transformation and Integration, and as Southwest Division Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Human Resources for Dignity Health in Northern California. Much of his leadership has been dedicated to serving healthcare organizations ranging from hospitals to ambulatory clinics to post-acute care sites and medical group enterprises throughout Arizona, California, Nevada and southern Utah.
Bethany Sexton, MBA Chief Executive Officer, Hometown Health
Before joining Renown in 2014, Bethany was the Vice President of Revenue Cycle at the largest provider of integrated health services in Tacoma, Washington: MultiCare Health System. Bethany received her bachelor's degree in business administration and management at Western Washington University and her master's degree in business administration at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is the past board chair of Immunize Nevada and a past board member of the Nevada Women's Fund. She is a mom of three active kids and loves spending time outdoors with her family.
Gregory Walaitis, MA CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Greg Walaitis has more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, board development, fundraising and donor stewardship. As Chief Development Officer, Greg works alongside the Renown Health Foundation Board Chair and Renown's leadership team to guide and drive philanthropy while creating a culture of giving and executing Renown's strategic plan. He joined Renown from Sutter Health, where he served as Executive Director and managed $55 million in donor assets for Sutter Sacramento, Sutter Davis and Sutter Solano Medical Centers.
Greg started his career at Arizona State University and served at Fresno State and Trinity Health in advancement positions. Greg has raised significant philanthropic dollars to support many clinical services, programs, technology and equipment. One partnership stands out, Sophie's Place music therapy program with Steve Young's foundation. Greg earned both his Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Arizona State University. He is an active member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He and his wife, Karen, have two children (Megan and Derek), both in college. In his free time, Greg coaches lacrosse as a volunteer for the UNR Men's Lacrosse club team.
Samuel K. Weller, MHPA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RENOWN SOUTH MEADOWS MEDICAL CENTER AND RENOWN REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
Samuel K. Weller, MHPA serves as Chief Executive Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, a 138-bed acute care community hospital and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, a 62-bed physical rehabilitation hospital in Reno, NV. As CEO, Mr. Weller works with the South Meadows and Rehabilitation leadership, medical staff, and team to achieve patient care, efficiency, and operational goals.
Mr. Weller comes to Renown from Centura Health where he served as Group Vice President of Physician Enterprise for Greater Colorado and Kansas, overseeing physician services across a Level 1 Trauma hospital, eight Level III Trauma hospitals, two critical Access/Trauma IV hospitals and numerous primary care and specialty care practices. He previously served as Director of Strategy and Ambulatory Practices for St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Summit County, CO overseeing hospital and ambulatory operations for the Rocky Mountain region; and Group Manager Business Development in Denver. Mr. Weller is a graduate of Washington State University with a master's degree in health policy and administration (MHPA) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Anna Loomis, MBA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Anna is an approachable, innovative, and resilient leader. Her proven record of financial stewardship and her deep understanding of the complexities of the healthcare landscape make her an ideal fit for the team. The essential role that Renown Health plays as the only local, not-for-profit, charitable healthcare network in Washoe County will be furthered by her commitment. We are confident that with her guidance and expertise, we will continue to strengthen our financial position while advancing our mission to deliver the highest quality care and service to patients.
Ms. Loomis will oversee all aspects of financial management for Renown Health including budgeting, financial planning, revenue cycle management, supply chain and strategic investments.
Before joining Renown, Ms. Loomis served as Senior Vice President and CFO with Portland-based Legacy Health, and prior to that as SVP and Chief Financial Officer for MultiCare, based in Washington state for more than 15 years. With over 20 years in finance leadership and strategy, Ms. Loomis has led several transformative efforts to strengthen organizations and build partnerships.
Anna earned her master’s and bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA); completed a finance fellowship with The Academy GE Fellows Program and serves on the Board of Directors for PacificSource health plans.
Renown Health Board
Adam Kramer, Chair
Tammy Dermody
Cliff Deveny, MD
Bijel Doshi
Brian Erling, MD
Mark Knobel
Stephanie Lepori
Christopher Ott, MD, FACEP
Marc Mora, MD
Jeff Resnik
Brian Sandoval