Coffman named WVUHS finance leader

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – West Virginia United Health System (WVUHS) has tapped Douglas M. Coffman to serve as its Chief Financial Officer. Coffman, currently vice president of finance/CFO at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, begins his new role with the state’s largest health system in July. UHC is one of five WVUHS member hospitals.

“Doug Coffman has been an outstanding member of the WVUHS and United Hospital Center team since 1993,” WVUHS President and CEO Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., said. “He brings to the position a wealth of leadership experience in hospital and clinical practice financial management, debt management for capital projects, and strategic thinking on how to optimize the financial infrastructure for the WVUHS in order to better position us for healthcare financing reform and population health.”

A lifelong West Virginian, Coffman earned a baccalaureate degree in business administration at West Virginia University prior to earning his M.B.A. at West Virginia Wesleyan University. He has worked within WVUHS since its inception, in key roles at UHC and as an active participant on the WVUHS finance team. 
“I am extremely thankful, and I look forward to the opportunity to be the Vice President of Finance and CFO for WVUHS, the premier health system in this great state,” Coffman said.  “As we all know, our state and national healthcare systems are changing. I would like to thank Dr. Colenda, President Gee and the WVUHS Board for allowing me to assume this position and to help WVUHS improve the healthcare status of the people in our great state of West Virginia.” 

After current WVUHS VP of Finance and CFO John Yeager announced his plans to retire from his position at the end of June, the WVUHS launched an extensive national talent search to find his successor. Dr. Colenda added that as VP/CFO Yeager “has done an outstanding job of building the financial foundation of our WVUHS as evidenced by our strong financial position and bond ratings with external agencies,” in addition to acting as a strong mentor to WVUHS member hospital CFOs. 

“We are very happy to welcome Doug Coffman to the West Virginia University healthcare family as our chief financial officer,” said President Gordon Gee, J.D., Ed.D., who chairs the System board. “His vast experience in the financial operations of both a hospital and a health system setting will be invaluable to our organization’s continued success in providing excellent healthcare and service to the people of our state and beyond.”

UHC President and CEO Mike Tillman praised the decision, noting Coffman’s integral role in the continued success of the hospital in caring for its community’s patients.

“Not only is Doug one of the brightest CFO’s that I have been privileged to work with – but he also understands the big picture evidenced by his ability to listen to patients’ care needs as well as staff and physician perspectives,” Tillman added. “Doug will do a great job as steward of the financial resources of WVUHS and as a member of WVUHS, UHC looks forward to working with him in this new role.”  

The West Virginia United Health System is the largest healthcare system in West Virginia, and the state’s second-largest private employer. Established by the West Virginia Legislature and the voluntary affiliation of several non-for-profit hospitals in 1996, it now encompasses six acute-care hospitals -- including the flagship Ruby Memorial Hospital on the campus of West Virginia University -- dozens of medical offices, and a diverse network of affiliated organizations.

WVUHS member hospitals provide about 25 percent of the inpatient hospital care in the state of West Virginia.