Parrinello Draws Praise from Her Boss
URMC CEO says she leads with integrity, decisiveness and a deep respect for the teams she oversees
By Mike Costanza
We asked University of Rochester Medical Center CEO David Linehan the following questions about Kathy Parrinello, the newest CEO and president of Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital.
Linehan, a physician who has worked with Parrinello since 2014, provided the following:
Q: What qualities does Kathy Parrinello have that make her the right person to be the president and CEO of Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital?
A: Throughout my time at URMC, I’ve seen firsthand the depth of her leadership skills, her unwavering dedication to patient care and her ability to navigate the complex challenges of academic medicine. Her clinical background as a nurse gives her an innate understanding of what it takes to deliver high-quality care at the bedside, while her experience in hospital administration has shaped her into an exceptional strategist and problem solver. She leads with integrity, decisiveness and a deep respect for the teams she oversees.
Q: In a June 2023 press release, you said that since COVID-19 the challenges of running UR Medicine have grown more intense. How might Kathy Parrinello’s skills and other attributes help her overcome those challenges?
A: The healthcare landscape has changed considerably since COVID-19 and leading an institution like Strong or Highland requires someone who is not only experienced but also adaptable, resilient and innovative. Kathy is exactly that leader.
She understands the evolving demands of hospital capacity and the increasing complexity of patient care. Her deep knowledge of operations, combined with her forward-thinking approach, has helped us navigate critical challenges. She is proactive rather than reactive — she anticipates problems before they arise and puts solutions in place that will strengthen our hospitals for years to come.