Rochester RHIO Names John Sheehan as Next CEO and President

Healthcare Management Veteran Joins One of the Nation's Most Respected and Progressive Community Health Information Exchanges this August.

ROCHESTER, NY, July 1, 2021—Following a national search, Rochester RHIO has named John Sheehan, MBA, FACHE, as the organization’s next chief executive officer and president, effective August 1. The healthcare management veteran takes the reins from Jill Eisenstein, who announced her intention to retire from the RHIO earlier this year.

Sheehan brings more than 20 years of experience leading health systems and community-based organizations through constantly evolving care models. He was most recently the principal lead consultant for All Tier Health Care Consulting in St. Petersburg, Fla. Prior, he served as president and chief executive officer of Toledo, Ohio-based Harbor, one of the largest behavioral health providers in the Midwest, and as chief executive officer for its Lighthouse Tele-health subsidiary.

“Amidst widespread national interest in the role, John quickly emerged as the right leader to guide the RHIO’s ongoing expansion, shaping and adapting to the complex, data-driven care environments across the greater Finger Lakes Region,” said Ann Marie Cook, chairperson of the Rochester RHIO Board of Directors. “He has navigated nearly every aspect of the healthcare ecosystem, fostering collaboration between diverse entities and consistently delivering measurable results. We’re thrilled that John is joining us and enthusiastic about what’s ahead for the RHIO, our thousands of participants and the 1.5 million residents we serve.”

“I am very excited to join Rochester RHIO as its next CEO. Working with an impressive staff and our community partners, my intent is to build on the organization’s successful and innovative history of connecting care to improve health outcomes—one patient at a time,” said Sheehan.

Sheehan, who was born in Rochester and spent part of his childhood in New York’s Southern Tier, is relocating to Rochester next month and will enter into a multi-week transition period with Eisenstein. Afterwards, Eisenstein will selectively consult with healthcare and community organizations on an independent basis.

As the trusted community steward for secure electronic exchange of vital health information, Rochester RHIO has become a highly valued contributor to the region’s healthcare ecosystem. The organization’s involvement has consistently been shown to improve near- and long-term outcomes. It has been at the forefront of health information exchange technology, policy, and implementation for more than a decade and its leadership and collaboration at the local, state and nationwide levels continues to grow.

About Rochester RHIO

Rochester RHIO is a secure electronic health information exchange serving authorized medical providers and 1.5 million residents of Monroe, Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties in Upstate New York. The service allows a medical care team to share records across institutions and practices, making patient information available wherever and whenever needed to provide the best care. Patients benefit from fewer repeated tests, easier second opinions, a reduced risk of mistakes caused by poor handwriting or incomplete records, and more informed care during office visits and emergencies. It is a Qualified Entity of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY). Health care professionals and patients can learn more by visiting RochesterRHIO.org or by calling 877-865-RHIO (7446).