BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – August 2025 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Jordy Rabinowitz as a partner in the firm’s healthcare and human resources practice area.

With over thirty years of legal and executive level human resources experience with large academic medical centers/health systems, Rabinowitz brings a sophisticated set of skills relative to executive search, including assisting organizations with succession planning, leadership development, coaching, and defining and filling executive level roles in an ever-changing healthcare environment. He previously served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMC Health) and legal counsel to both WMCHealth and Northwell Health.

“We are delighted to welcome Jordy to the Buffkin / Baker team. His proven track record in developing health system strategies and recruiting top executives, physicians, and clinical leaders—paired with his deep expertise in human resources—will bring significant value to our clients nationwide,” said Susan O’Hare, partner and practice leader. “We are proud to name him as a partner and look forward to his contributions as we continue to deliver the highest standards of service, commitment, and value in the executive search industry.”

Drawing upon his diverse background, Rabinowitz provides strategic counsel to boards and C-suite leaders on a wide range of workforce challenges. He has played a pivotal role in designing succession planning frameworks and identifying and nurturing talent for future leadership positions.

“I am excited to join Buffkin/Baker as a partner in the healthcare and human resources practices and look forward to contributing to the firm’s esteemed reputation,” Rabinowitz said. “It is a wonderful opportunity to work with a talented and collaborative team whose personalized approach with clients and candidates aligns with my values. For more than 25 years, Buffkin/Baker has consistently exceeded client expectations, and I am eager to be part of this journey as we deliver transformational leadership solutions.”

Rabinowitz earned a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University.

Jen Coleman, Partner, has joined WBL (Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation), a member organization housing the premier network of women executives across the healthcare industry. Built on and inspired by genuine relationships between peers, WBL supports its members in creating meaningful cross-sector relationships , expanding their presence in board and C-level roles, and harnessing their collective power to improve the industry.

Jen currently serves as a Partner at Buffkin/Baker and is engaged in executive and senior-level assignments. She is actively involved in the firm’s Healthcare, Private Equity, and Digital Transformation Practices. With over 15 years of experience, Jen has expertise in working with public and private companies, and private equity backed companies to attract executive leaders in a competitive market. She brings her consulting experience to work directly with clients to understand their needs and goals in filling critical gaps in leadership and delivering successful outcomes.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., 2023–Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Ann Yates as a partner in the firm’s higher education practice area.

With a career spanning more than two decades, she brings a commitment to quality client service and engagement, and an understanding of higher education leadership. Yates most recently served as a managing director in ZRG’s non-profit & education practice and prior to that she served as a senior partner with Witt/Kieffer.

Yates is well-versed in every area of academic leadership, enabling her to serve her clients broadly and across multiple functional areas. She has completed more than 300 executive-level searches throughout her career, including engagements for presidents, provosts, deans and vice presidents at leading public and private colleges and universities.  Additionally, she brings a strong reputation for advancing women and candidates with diverse backgrounds.

“We are delighted to welcome Ann to the Buffkin / Baker team. Her demonstrated success in recruiting diverse and talented candidates will bring substantial value to our clients across the country,” said Martin Baker, managing partner. “Her depth of expertise and commitment to quality client service in higher education is invaluable. We look forward to the experience she brings to our clients as we partner with them to secure the leadership needed in today’s evolving higher education landscape and environment.”

Yates is a recognized thought leader, having contributed articles to the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Education. Additionally, she has been an invited presenter at ACE Women’s Network and AACSB’s ICAM conference.  She received her master’s degree in industrial psychology from the University of New Haven and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bethany College. 

“I am thrilled to join Buffkin/Baker as a partner in the higher education practice. It is a tremendous opportunity to work with an accomplished and collegial team whose high-touch approach with clients and candidates aligns with my values,” said Yates. “I was drawn to Buffkin/Baker’s senior leadership, the incredible team, the firm’s impressive outcomes and success, and their passion for delivering the highest quality service to a wide range of clients. As we look to the future and the challenges facing higher education, I believe Buffkin/Baker is well-positioned and will continue to distinguish itself in support of clients tackling these difficult issues. I look forward to contributing to the journey as we provide transformational and impactful leadership solutions.”

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., 2023– Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jackson Ross to partner, where he will be responsible for creating value for clients in both the firm’s health care and private equity practice areas.

Jackson joined Buffkin/Baker in 2021 as a principal and was quickly promoted to associate partner in 2022, through his leadership in executive and senior level search assignments. He has secured executive leadership talent in the health care, digital and private equity practices for both national and global clients. Prior to joining Buffkin / Baker, Jackson was part of the leadership team and helped launch the U.S. operations for United Imaging Healthcare. He was instrumental in the development of go-to-market strategy and the commercialization of a nationwide team.

“Jackson brings more than 20 years of experience exceeding client expectations and market share growth through his previous leadership roles, and this strong foundation will allow him to deliver substantial value to our clients,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “We are proud to name him partner in the health care practice and look forward to his contribution in providing the highest level of service, commitment and value in the executive search industry.”

Jackson is a native Nashvillian and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in business management and marketing from the University of Mississippi. He has received multiple awards and industry recognition for his ability to create client solutions that meet and exceed the business and financial needs of his customers.

“I am excited to play a role in helping define the next chapter of Buffkin / Baker and working with Craig to build upon a widely respected reputation,” said Ross. “For 23 years Buffkin / Baker has exceeded client expectations; today’s market dynamics are creating opportunity for a more catered and boutique experience, and I am thrilled to be aligned with a team that can innovate and deliver talent that enables our clients to exceed their own expectations.”

 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., 2023– Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Megan Berlinger, where she will be responsible for creating value for clients in the firm’s health care delivery vertical.

Berlinger joined Buffkin / Baker in 2022 as an associate partner actively engaged in academic medicine searches with a focus on serving AAMC institutions and health systems. She has more than 16 years of experience in school of medicine and health system administration, serving in key roles at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, including heart & vascular service line administrator and department administrator. Berlinger used that experience when she transitioned to executive search, incorporating operational experience into the recruitment process.

“Megan has a wealth of experience in conducting executive searches in academic medicine, both physician executive and health care executive searches. She continues to leverage that experience to truly serve our clients and deliver outstanding results,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “We are so proud to name her a partner in the health care practice and look forward to her contribution to the future success of Buffkin / Baker.”

Berlinger holds a bachelor’s degree in public health and master’s in health care administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is certified within executive coaching and a founding partner for the Elevate Institute. Berlinger is an adjunct professor at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, where she teaches and advises within the health policy and management division.

“I have always enjoyed being part of a team and impacting the health of our communities, and this is an exciting time given the challenges and opportunities in health care,” said Berlinger. “Leadership is more important now than ever. Partnering with organizations across the country to recruit top talent and working alongside the strong team of leaders at Buffkin / Baker is an honor and privilege.”

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., September 10, 2022 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Shepherd Berlinger as Associate Partner in its Healthcare Practice. Berlinger will join the healthcare delivery vertical, leading our academic medicine searches with a focus on serving AAMC institutions and health systems.

With more than 16 years of experience in school of medicine and health system administration, Berlinger served key administration roles at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, including heart & vascular service line administrator and department administrator. She then transitioned to executive search, incorporating operational experience into the recruitment process.

“We are excited to welcome Megan to our team. She truly understands what it means to serve clients and deliver outstanding results,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “Her expertise in conducting physician executive searches gives us deeper health care expertise and allows us to recruit with confidence.”

Prior to working at Wake Forest, Berlinger completed her Administrative Fellowship with Johns Hopkins Medicine. She holds both her Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Master of Healthcare Administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Berlinger is certified within executive coaching and a founding partner for Elevate Institute. She also serves as adjunct professor in UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health where she teaches and advises within Health Policy and Management.

Berlinger has been involved nationally in health care leadership circles, serving as president and board member of the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators (AASA) as well as editorial advisor for the Cardiovascular Business Magazine.

“I am thrilled to join the team at Buffkin / Baker.  Across my career, I have loved partnering with health care leaders to solve complex problems,” Berlinger said. “In executive search, I enjoy focusing on recruitment, helping secure leaders who will drive impact across the country. Buffkin / Baker brings a history of excellence and focus on best practices. It is an honor to join such an experienced organization and team. I am eager to build upon that foundation, together creating value for health care clients and ultimately impacting the health of communities.”

 

 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., August 16, 2022 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. David J. Ballard, MD, PhD, MBA, as chief clinical officer in its health care practice. Ballard will support the health care delivery vertical of the firm’s health care practice, serving health systems, AAMC institutions, not-for-profit and for-profit hospital and medical groups with physician executive and health care executive searches.

As a global health care executive, Ballard brings proven expertise in improving health care value and organizational financial performance, while providing international thought leadership. He was recognized by Becker’s four consecutive years as one of the top 50 experts leading the field of patient safety, is the past president of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare and received the distinguished alumnus awards from the University of North Carolina Schools of Medicine and Public Health in 2008 and 2019. Widely recognized as a global scholar in health care quality and value, his two books on health care quality leadership received Shingo awards for their contributions to operational excellence.

“David is a welcome addition to the Buffkin / Baker team. His extensive health care experience provides us with a strong foundation to provide quality service for our clients seeking today’s leading physician, nursing, and health care executives,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “Dr. Ballard brings a unique set of leadership skills, and his background as a physician leader in academic health science centers such as the University of Virginia and Emory University, as well as in large health care systems such as Mayo Clinic and Baylor Scott & White Health, will add substantial depth to our team, strengthen our capabilities and allow us to serve our clients at an even higher level.”

Ballard previously served as chief quality officer of Baylor Scott & White Health, where the organization received both the Leapfrog Patient-Centered Care Award and the National Quality Forum Health Care Award under his leadership.  Additionally, he has held leadership roles at Emory University, University of Virginia and Mayo Clinic, and completed five degrees with honors in economics, public health, epidemiology, medicine, and business at the University of North Carolina, where he was a John Motley Morehead Scholar.  He is a board-certified internist, having completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic. 

Ballard continues to serve as health care policy section editor for the Mayo Clinic Proceedings and associate editor for the Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes. He also serves on the boards of several global health care companies, including as a director and audit committee member for Mentice (MNTV.ST), the world’s leading endovascular simulation performance solutions company. Ballard has several leadership roles at the University of North Carolina, where he is adjunct professor of health policy and management, a member of the UNC Chancellor’s Global Leadership Council and a member of the UNC Center on the Business of Health Leadership Advisory Board. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Craig Buffkin and his colleagues,” said Ballard. “Craig and I share an extensive interconnected history through the Morehead/Morehead-Cain Foundation and the UNC baseball program, as well as both of us being MBA graduates of the Kenan-Flagler Business School. My career has been devoted to efforts of making health care safer and more affordable, while reducing health disparities. As chief clinical officer for Buffkin / Baker, I look forward to assisting health care systems, academic health science centers and other organizations across the United States in their pursuit of these and other strategic objectives, ensuring that they have the executive talent to do so. Given our national imperative to make health care safer and more affordable, while reducing health disparities, Buffkin / Baker is a critical partner in the recruitment and successful engagement of health care executive talent. “

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 26, 2022 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Steve Marsh as a partner in its healthcare practice. Marsh will be responsible for leading the health care delivery vertical of the firm’s health care practice, serving health systems, AAMC institutions, not-for-profit and for-profit hospital and medical groups with physician executive and health care executive searches.

Marsh brings nearly 30 years of experience in health care recruiting.  He spent the first two decades of his career in clinical search and is one of the original founders of The Medicus Firm, one of the largest clinical recruiting search firms in the country. The Medicus Firm was acquired by M3, USA, Inc. in 2015. Marsh then founded M3 Executive Search as a separate subsidiary, successfully building an executive search team and conducting executive searches for a wide array of recognized health care clients across the U. S.

“We are delighted to welcome Steve to the Buffkin / Baker team. His demonstrated success in health care and academic medicine executive recruiting will add another layer to our capabilities and bring substantial value to our clients across the country,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “His experience makes him the right person to lead our client engagements within academic medicine, integrated health care systems, not-for-profit and for-profit medical centers, payor groups, and medical groups. We look forward to the value he brings to the team and to our clients as we help them secure the health care leaders required in today’s evolving environment.”

Marsh has been cited as an innovative leader in numerous national media publications and serves as a keynote and guest speaker at nationwide health care conferences and forums on various topics related to health care recruiting process “best practices,” maintaining a positive workplace culture, diversity/inclusion and contract negotiation.

“I am thrilled to make the transition to Buffkin / Baker.  I wanted to spend the last several years of my career working in a private firm environment, and Buffkin / Baker’s established platform, long history of success in health care executive search, and incredible group of people made this an easy decision,” said Marsh.  “I am excited to share the Buffkin / Baker story with health care clients across the country as we provide the highest level of service, commitment and value in the executive search industry.”

 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 8, 2022 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Pelema Ellis as principal, where he will be responsible for creating value for clients in the firm’s higher education practice. 

Ellis brings more than 20 years of experience in driving a strategic effort through a variety of roles in higher education. Previously, he served as president at Great Bay Community College, leading a comprehensive reorganization of the college’s leadership structure. Before that, he was the vice provost for enrollment and strategic development at the University of Missouri, where he led the development and launch of the university’s first strategic enrollment management committee as well as its first integrated strategic enrollment management plan. Most recently, he was vice provost at the University of New Hampshire, where he led efforts to increase net tuition revenue. As a campus thought partner, Ellis has demonstrated success in institutional-wide strategy development and planning to foster innovative, collaborative, and high-achieving environments.

“We are delighted to welcome Pelema to Buffkin / Baker. His significant experience in higher education will add substantial depth to our team and strengthen our capabilities as we serve our higher education clients across the country,” said Martin Baker, managing partner, and higher education practice leader.

“Pelema brings a set of diverse leadership skills, having worked at a top liberal arts college, an AAU institution, and a community college, among others. His knowledge of the higher education landscape over the past 20 years will add significant value as we partner with our clients to build their leadership.”

Ellis holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in higher education and a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology from San Jose State University. He is a noted speaker in the higher education field and has made numerous media appearances regarding the future of higher education. 

“I am excited to join Buffkin / Baker and work with postsecondary institutions to build great leadership teams,” Ellis said. “Throughout my search process, Martin and his colleagues demonstrated competency and humanity that aligned with my values.”