Klass Assumes Interim President Role at UAHS

Released: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 3:57 PM

Klass Assumes Interim President Role at UAHS

Kaleida Health today announced that Cheryl Klass, MBA, BSN, RN, Kaleida Health executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), will now also assume the temporary role as interim president, Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS).

In April, UAHS and Kaleida Health announced a nationwide search for a new president, following the resignation of Jill Owens, MD. Dr. Owens has left UAHS to return to private medical practice.

Muhammed Javed, MD, chair of the UAHS Board said, "We thank Dr. Owens for her service and stepping in at a key time for us."

Klass will serve as interim president until the search has concluded. It is expected that UAHS will have its new leader by the end of the year.

Klass, a 47-year health care veteran, has been with Kaleida Health for 20 years and has served in a variety of roles. Prior to becoming the COO, she was the chief nursing executive (CNE) for Kaleida Health.

She came to Kaleida Health in 2004 when she was recruited to serve as president of the then Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo. It was a homecoming of sorts as she originally launched her nursing career at the Byrant Street facility as a staff registered nurse in 1977.

In December 2011, Klass was appointed senior vice president of operations, Buffalo General Medical Center, which also included opening the Gates Vascular Institute and HighPointe on Michigan. She also oversaw Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo at that time as well.

Klass earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Niagara University and her Master of Business Administration from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.