UF Health clinical enterprise names system CFO - UF Health

October 14, 2024

By Greg Harrison

Media Contact

Geoffrey (Geoff) Gardner, CPA, is set to take on the role of executive vice president and system chief financial officer of the UF Health clinical enterprise beginning Dec. 1. (Photo courtesy of Geoff Gardner)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Geoffrey (Geoff) K. Gardner, CPA, has been named executive vice president and system chief financial officer of the UF Health clinical enterprise.

A financial executive with more than 20 years of experience in health care leadership, financial management, financial analysis, and process improvement, Gardner will join the organization Dec. 1 from Novant Health Inc., where he recently served as the interim chief financial officer.

Since 2009, he has taken on progressive responsibility at Novant — a $9 billion system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that includes 17 acute care facilities, a 3,000-provider medical group with over 500 practice locations, and numerous other ambulatory outpatient surgery, imaging, and infusion sites — including as senior vice president, finance & revenue cycle. Earlier in his career, he held a number of other finance and business development positions, primarily in health care.

“UF Health has secured its position as a preeminent health system that positively impacts health care outcomes for our patients and our communities,” said Stephen J. Motew, MD, MHA, FACS, president and system CEO of UF Health. “As we continue to build on our strong track record of clinical excellence, Geoff’s extensive experience and strategic vision will be instrumental in guiding our financial operations and supporting our continued growth.

“Working collaboratively with our health system leaders across our various regions, Geoff will play a key role in ensuring we remain agile, innovative, and focused on long-term success.”

Gardner will provide guidance to leadership on broader health system initiatives, including advising and supporting the senior leadership team on strategic and operational opportunities as UF Health evaluates opportunities for strategic growth.

In addition, as CFO he will enhance the role strategic finance plays in developing new capabilities, while also ensuring standardization and accurate reporting capabilities are embedded within the organization. Gardner will lead efforts to formulate and implement new revenue streams and maximize reimbursement, along with leading business planning and funding strategies for all major capital projects and general funds flow across the enterprise.

He also will help guide operational excellence and performance improvement activities and look for ways to enhance overall efficiencies through benchmarking and standardization. Examples include ensuring financial rigor and seamless coordination around the development of business plans, pro formats, and growth-related activities.

Gardner holds a bachelor’s degree in public health, with a concentration in health policy and administration, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he also earned a master’s in accounting from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

His recent professional contributions include chairing the board of Advanced Home Care and serving as a member of the CoreLife Novant LLC board. In addition, he is a GE finance fellow of the Health Management Academy and a member of the Academy’s Finance Executive Forum, as well as a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the North Carolina Association of CPAs.

The firm Korn Ferry assisted with the search for this position, aided by search committee members Ed Daech, UF Health chief human resources officer; Taylor Jantz, UF CFO; Kevin Lintner, UF’s AVP for enterprise finance and deputy CFO; Alan Levine, a member of the UF Health Corp. Board of Directors; David R. Nelson, MD, senior vice president for health affairs at UF; Marsha Powers, a member of the UF Board of Trustees and chair of the UF Health Corp. Board of Directors; and Bill Young, UF Health chief legal officer.