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Dear Colleagues-  

Please join me in welcoming two exceptional leaders who have recently joined the Health Information and Technology team — Michelle Lardner, our inaugural Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO), and Chris Baker, our new Chief Information Security Officer. Michelle and Chris will play instrumental roles in advancing UVA Health’s mission through innovation, security, and clinical excellence. They will both report directly to me.

Michelle Lardner, DNP, MS, RN-BC, Chief Nursing Information Officer

Michelle joins us as the first CNIO at UVA Health, bringing a wealth of experience in clinical informatics and a strong commitment to improving clinician utilization of our electronic medical records (EMR) systems. In this role, she will lead initiatives to enhance EMR efficiency and foster collaborations that drive clinically relevant technology solutions across UVA Health. Michelle will oversee the nurse informaticist team and coordinate with our incoming system Chief Medical Information Officer to establish an integrated clinical informatics structure for the health system.

Her previous experience includes roles as System Executive Director of Enterprise Clinical Systems at City of Hope, and Senior Vice President of Clinical Informatics at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Michelle also served in the US Navy Nurse Corps with wartime and humanitarian deployments. She earned a BSN from the University of Illinois and an MS and DNP from the University of Maryland.

Chris Baker, MBA, CHISL, CISM, OSCP, GPEN, Chief Information Security Officer

Chris brings over 21 years of expertise in cybersecurity and risk management and a strong commitment to strengthening UVA Health’s cyberdefenses. His extensive background includes cybersecurity operations, offensive security testing, vulnerability assessments, and regulatory compliance, as well as risk remediation and strategic planning. In his role at UVA Health, Chris will develop a comprehensive information security program focused on defending against and responding to cybersecurity threats, protecting critical information, and analyzing and mitigating risks. Chris will also lead cybersecurity training and awareness initiatives and ensure secure access to information and systems.

Chris joined us most recently from Thomas Jefferson University Health System in Philadelphia where he was the Director of Cybersecurity Operations for a 30-hospital academic health system and transformed cyberdefense and incident response. Chris has earned four certifications in information security and holds a BS from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Drexel University with a dual concentration in Management Information Systems and Corporate Finance.

Michelle and Chris will be invaluable leaders in our efforts to support and protect our clinical and technical environments, and I am confident they will make a significant impact on our organization.

Please join me in welcoming Michelle and Chris to UVA Health. We are excited to have them on board as we continue to strengthen and grow our commitment to clinical and technological excellence.

Warm regards,

Robin Parkin, CPHIMS, CHCIO
Chief Information and Technology Officer
UVA Health