Intermountain Health Names New COO

The system's VP and COO of clinical shared services will now oversee all of the health system's operations.

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Intermountain Health has named a new leader to oversee the organization's operations.

Nannette Berensen, who has a long history with Intermountain, will serve as the nonprofit health system's COO.

She first joined the health system during college as a phlebotomist. After working in roles outside of the organization, she came back to the health system in 2006 to serve as director of pharmacy services for Intermountain Medical Center and has served in numerous leadership positions since. She most recently served as VP and COO of clinical shared services.

"I have the highest respect for and confidence in Nannette, who has demonstrated a unique ability to drive innovation, bring teams together, and improve the patient experience," Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain, said in a press release. "We need leaders like Nannette who are respected by our colleagues, put patients and caregivers first, and can deliver on our mission. I join other leaders across Intermountain in congratulating her, and I look forward to our continued partnership."

Allen, who previously served as the system's COO, was named the health system's new CEO by the Intermountain board of trustees in December. He succeeded the system's interim president and CEO, Lydia Jumonville, who now serves as the executive sponsor of Integration for the health system until her planned retirement at the end of 2023.

"I am honored, humbled, and excited to serve as COO," Berensen said in a statement. "I am passionate about what Intermountain Health stands for as an organization and so grateful for the work our 60,000 caregivers engage in every day to make a difference in peoples’ lives and to serve our communities well. There are formidable challenges facing healthcare that will require the collective wisdom and efforts of all of us to position Intermountain Health for future success. I am confident that by working together, we will be successful."

Additionally, the health system officially changed its name from Intermountain Healthcare to Intermountain Health last week, to reflect the system's "added emphasis on keeping people healthy, as well as continuing to provide world-class medical care at its hospitals and clinics," the system said in a press release. The system also has an updated logo to reflect the name change.

The new name was originally announced in 2022, and was changed based on feedback from consumers, patients, and employees. Branding will be gradually updated during a several-year-long phase, starting within the system's websites and digital tools.