June 6, 2022 – 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.
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.
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.
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.