Leadership change announced at UHS Home Care

Karla Dotts, RN, has been named president and chief executive officer of UHS Home Care.

She succeeds Joseph Cerra, who has served as president and CEO of UHS Home Care for 25 years and who will continue in his role as senior vice president for the Physician Practice Division of UHS Hospitals.

The change was announced by John M. Carrigg, president and chief executive officer of UHS, and Linda Best, chairperson of the UHS Home Care Board of Directors. 

“This planned succession will ensure the continuity and quality of leadership of both UHS Home Care and the Hospitals’ physician practice division,” Mr. Carrigg said.

Ms. Best commented: “Ms. Dotts has prepared well and will play a key role in enabling us to expand the important area of home healthcare, adapting to the changing needs of our patients.”

“Mr. Cerra’s role as a senior vice president at UHS Hospitals is crucial to the continuing strength of the UHS System’s practice locations and close affiliation with the UHS Medical Group,” Mr. Carrigg noted.

Ms. Dotts jointed Twin Tier Home Health, now part of UHS Home Care, in 1998 as a registered nurse case manager.

Over the past 20 years she has served with great distinction as director of Nursing, vice president for Clinical Services and chief operating officer of UHS Home Care.

She earned her nursing degree at the DePaul Medical Center School of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in nursing and healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.

Mr. Cerra joined UHS 41 years ago and has held a variety of key leadership positions, including director of Biomedical Engineering, manager of Support Services and program manager of the Department of Medicine at UHS Hospitals.

He received undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering technology and industrial technology from Penn State University and the Statue University of New York, and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Scranton.