Michele Volpe: University of Pennsylvania Health System COO

Michele Volpe has been named the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS)’s new Chief Operating Officer, following 23 years as CEO of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC).

In her new role, each of Penn Medicine’s six hospital CEOs will report to Ms. Volpe, and she will be responsible for a slate of efforts to further enhance operational efficiency and program integration across the 3,400+-bed health system, which stretches from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Princeton, New Jersey, including three hospitals in Philadelphia. Together, the hospitals care for patients during more than 6.5 million outpatient visits and about 130,000 admissions each year, including the deliveries of more than 18,000 babies.

“Michele is among the very best leaders working in healthcare today, and she is a deeply experienced and trusted strategist and partner who has continuously proven her skills at shaping new models and facilities that allow us to deliver the very best care to our patients,” said UPHS CEO Kevin B. Mahoney. “I’m thrilled for her to take on a role that will allow her to expand her vision and steady leadership hand across our entire health system.”

During her tenure as CEO of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Ms. Volpe has overseen pivotal projects that include the opening of the Penn Medicine University City outpatient facility, the relocation of Penn Medicine’s Level 1 Trauma Center from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to PPMC, and construction of the Penn Presbyterian Advanced Care Pavilion, which opened in 2015. Together with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PPMC is consistently ranked among the nation’s top hospitals by U.S. News and World Report, coming in at #13 on the publication’s prestigious honor roll this year.

A highly respected leader among her healthcare peers, Ms. Volpe currently serves as chair of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), which advocates for the more than 240 hospitals across the commonwealth. She has been a member of HAP’s Board of Directors since 2016 and served as its treasurer before becoming chair.

“This is the most exciting time in Penn Medicine’s long history, and I am honored to begin this new work with my colleagues across the health system to advance our position as the place that patients from across our region—and far beyond—can always rely on,” Ms. Volpe said.

She assumed the new role beginning September 1, 2022, succeeding Philip Okala, who will soon begin a new role as system president at California-based City of Hope.