Danny Hardman named CEO of University Medical Center New Orleans

University Medical Center New Orleans has named Danny Hardman as the new Chief Executive Officer. A native of Benton, Louisiana, Hardman will lead a staff of more than 2,600 and manage the continued growth of the $1.2 billion medical center, the state’s largest teaching hospital and a part of LCMC Health. University Medical Center is home to the Rev. Avery C. Alexander Academic Research Hospital.

“Our community welcomes Danny’s leadership at one of the most significant academic medical centers in the country,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “I am confident that Danny will help UMC continue to serve as a world-class academic research hospital that trains the next generation of healthcare professionals and also provides healthcare with heart.”

Hardman has more than 20 years of healthcare experience, most recently with CHRISTUS Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi Texas. From 2017-2019, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at CHRISTUS Spohn Shoreline, a 557-bed hospital with a Level II Trauma Center, and CHRISTUS Spohn Memorial, a 341-bed hospital.

A registered nurse, Hardman has focused much of his career on improving patient safety and the patient experience. He also oversaw a recent $335 million expansion at Christus Spohn Shoreline that added more than 203 patient beds.

“I am excited to join University Medical Center,” Hardman said. “It’s a time of strong growth for the medical center, with the recent opening of a Burn Center, expansion of Behavioral Health Services, and the development of a new Ambulatory Surgical Center. I look forward to working with the two medical schools, our faculty physicians, learners, and staff to improve safety, quality, and patient-centered care.”

His focus as CEO will be on quality, operational capacity, new services growth, and population health.

Hardman’s healthcare career began at CHRISTUS Schumpert Health System in Shreveport, LA. He went on to serve in numerous leadership positions at hospitals and health systems in the Southwest, including Norman Regional Health System in Norman, OK; McAlester Regional Health Center in McAlester, OK, where he was Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer; Baylor Scott & White Health in Temple, TX, where he was Vice President of Patient Care Services; and Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, OK, where he served as Chief Nursing Officer.

He holds a bachelor’s degree of Science in Nursing from Grambling State University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Centenary College. He was a fellow at the American College of Healthcare Executives and is pursuing a doctorate degree at Nova Southeastern University.