Kathleen McCollum Named President And CEO Of UM BWMC

Posted

Kathleen “Kathy” McCollum has been named president and chief executive officer for University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), effective April 5. After a national search, McCollum was selected to lead UM BWMC in its continued efforts to deliver the highest-quality health care services to the people of Anne Arundel County. She replaces Neel Vibhakar, who agreed to serve as UM BWMC’s interim president and chief executive officer following the retirement of Karen Olscamp in January, while also continuing his duties as chief medical officer.

"The impact Kathy has made at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) cannot be overstated, but it’s her commitment to our team at UM BWMC, as well as to the people of Anne Arundel County, that has defined Kathy’s career,” said Mohan Suntha, president and chief executive officer of UMMS. “For the past 20 years, she has been an integral member of a leadership team that has consistently, purposefully and strategically grown UM BWMC’s footprint and mission, making it one of the most trusted institutions in the county.”

Korkut Onal, chairman of the UM BWMC board of directors, has no doubt that the center is in good hands with McCollum, who is an “exceptional leader.”

“As board chair, I have worked alongside her for years and have experienced firsthand her depth of knowledge and long track record of success at UM BWMC,” Onal said. “I look forward to working with her as we continue to build on the medical center’s strong foundation of caring for the communities of Anne Arundel County.”

McCollum joined UMMS in 1992 as an administrative resident at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and transitioned to UM BWMC in 2001 as vice president and executive director of the Tate Cancer Center, an affiliate of the UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. She was promoted in 2013 to chief operating officer and senior vice president for clinical integration, with oversight for operations, nursing, local human resources, and strategic planning. A resident of Anne Arundel County, McCollum is active in the community, having served on boards or volunteered for several community organizations, including Hospice of the Chesapeake, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead UM BWMC, an organization made up of dedicated and talented team members and medical staff committed to providing the highest-quality patient care and serving the needs of our community,” McCollum said. “I also look forward to continuing to contribute to the mission of UMMS, which has been my professional home for my entire career.”

Some of McCollum’s major achievements include the opening of the Pascal Women's Center in 2009 and significant surgical suite expansions. Her leadership was instrumental in the vision, planning and creation of UM BWMC’s new five-story medical office building, scheduled to open in late 2021, that will house a community wellness center and expanded outpatient practices for diabetes, vascular, neurosciences and orthopaedics. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, McCollum served as hospital incident commander, providing leadership as UM BWMC treated a disproportionate share of COVID-19 patients within UMMS, while expanding COVID vaccinations to thousands of community members over the past two months. Since 2018, UM BWMC has also demonstrated remarkable progress in how care is delivered in Anne Arundel County, earning recognitions from Leapfrog, U.S. News & World Report, the American Heart Association and many others.

McCollum holds a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Health Science degree in health finance and management from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here