UPMC Announces Leadership Transition in Central Pa.

June 2, 2022

HARRISBURG, Pa. — UPMC announced today the retirement of Phil Guarneschelli, president, UPMC in Central Pa. Guarneschelli plans to retire on Sept. 30, 2022, at which time Lou Baverso, chief operating officer, UPMC in Central Pa., will succeed him as president, UPMC in Central Pa.

“For more than 36 years, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of serving our communities here in central Pa.,” said Guarneschelli. ““While this role has been tremendously rewarding for me and I will miss my colleagues, I look forward to what lies ahead for my family and me in this next chapter in our lives. I am proud of the work of our teams here in this region and I’m confident that our communities are in best hands with Mr. Baverso and the leadership teams across the UPMC system.“

Over his tenure, Guarneschelli has overseen strategic growth and expansion of both services and facilities in the central Pennsylvania region, first as PinnacleHealth and then UPMC in Central Pa. Nearly five years ago, Guarneschelli guided the process as PinnacleHealth joined UPMC, and under his leadership since, the region has flourished with the expansion of services, upgrades to facilities and the recruitment of dozens providers to the network, allowing UPMC to better serve central Pennsylvania residents with access to world-renowned care.

In addition to his service to health care, Guarneschelli’s involvement in the community is broad, including 20 years of dedication to the Boy Scouts of Central Pennsylvania and serving on various committees with the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Keystone Area Council Boy Scouts of America and United Way.

“We are grateful for Mr. Guarneschelli’s leadership and life-long commitment to the health of the communities in central Pennsylvania,” said David Martin, senior vice president, Health Services Division, UPMC, and market president, Central Region, UPMC. “We wish him well in his retirement and look forward to Mr. Baverso’s guidance as he takes over leading UPMC’s mission in caring for the people of central Pennsylvania.”

Baverso, currently the chief operating officer of UPMC Central Pa., and president, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC West Shore and UPMC Community Osteopathic, will succeed Guarneschelli as president, UPMC Central Pa Region. In his new role, Baverso will lead the regional efforts of the seven hospitals and employed medical group as UPMC continues to build out services and deliver high quality care to the residents of central Pennsylvania.

“I am honored to have been selected to take on the role of president of UPMC in Central Pa.,” said Baverso. “I look forward to the future of our organization and our role in the community. Building off what has been established under Mr. Guarneschelli’s leadership, we look to continue advancing our mission bringing life changing medicine to the region.”

Baverso has more than 29 years of health care management experience in clinical and support operations. His background is diverse in hospital operations as well as information technology, and he has held roles in executive leadership in both disciplines during his more than 25 years at UPMC.

Prior to transitioning to central Pa. in 2019, he served as vice president of operations at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside in Pittsburgh, which has consistently been ranked among the top hospitals in the state and the nation. He has also served in a wide range of leadership roles in UPMC, including vice president of operations at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. In his tenure at UPMC Baverso has led many integration and expansion projects including, most recently, the expansion of UPMC West Shore.