College of Medicine names new senior associate dean for operations, finance

Neil Holsing to assume position upon retirement of Lori Mackey on Jan. 1

Longtime University of Cincinnati leader Neil Holsing has been appointed the College of Medicine’s senior associate dean for operations and finance and chief administrative officer of UC Health University of Cincinnati Physicians, effective Jan. 1, 2025. 

Holsing assumes his new position upon the retirement of Lori Mackey, who has served in the role since 2008.

Holsing is currently associate dean of operations and finance for the College of Medicine and vice president of operations for UC Physicians, which is the largest physician practice plan in the region. 

“It is a privilege to continue my service to UC and UC Physicians when the need for skilled leadership and sound financial stewardship has never been more important in health care and higher education. I could not ask for a better team to continue successfully navigating the difficult fiscal realities of this business,” said Holsing.

With this appointment, Holsing is expanding his 30-year career in finance, operations and information technology. 

Holsing has directed budgeting processes for the college and practice plan and has had a primary role in developing a new funds flow methodology, creating clinical faculty compensation plans and automating consolidated financial reporting. 

As a frequent collaborator across the university and health systems, Holsing has received acclaim for his commitment to mission, quality and outcomes.

Headshot of Neil Holsing

Neil Holsing, MBA

“Neil has been a top performer at UC Physicians for more than a decade, and retaining his commitment, experience and knowledge base will help us expand upon our positive impact in the community. Aspirational growth and financial sustainability absolutely require this next-level leadership,” said Michael Archdeacon, MD, CEO of UC Physicians, senior associate dean for clinical affairs in the College of Medicine and Peter J. Stern endowed chair and professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Mackey will stay on as an adviser to Holsing during the transition, drawing on her extensive experience in the Cincinnati area and deep knowledge of academic health centers.  

“I could not ask for a better mentor than Lori Mackey, whose resolute leadership style has taught me a lot about fidelity to mission,” said Holsing.

Archdeacon added, “During this transition, we offer heartfelt appreciation to Lori Mackey for her tireless efforts to provide our faculty physicians with the support they need to transform health and improve life in Greater Cincinnati.”

Gregory Postel, MD, joined UC as dean of the College of Medicine earlier this year. He said he has relied on the insight of both Mackey and Holsing.

“For more than 20 years, Neil has been a principal contributor to some of our biggest successes, which have prepared him well to be our next senior associate dean for operations and finance,” said Postel, who also serves as Christian R. Holmes endowed professor and senior vice president of health affairs for UC Health.  

Amid fluctuations in funding sources for both health care and higher education, new entities are entering an already competitive local market. So, this transition occurs at a critical time for both the College of Medicine and UC Health. 

However, leaders of both are optimistic about the future, and learners and patients remain the focus of the institutions. Currently, cross-functional teams from the College of Medicine and UC Health are working together on a new strategic plan to achieve even higher levels of quality and accessibility for the bedrock institution.

“Together, all of us are stewards of the College of Medicine’s 205-year legacy, grounded in the pioneering efforts of a practicing physician interwoven with the most innovative research produced by physician-scientists. So, we look ahead to the next two centuries knowing that anything is possible in transforming health in Cincinnati and beyond,” said Postel.

Holsing served as executive director of business and administration for neurology and pathology before being promoted to the dean’s office. He started his career at UC in several leadership roles within the Department of Internal Medicine. For nearly a decade prior to joining UC, he held a range of senior positions in information technology and institutional research at Miami University. He earned his BS and MBA from Miami.

A national search for an associate dean in the College of Medicine and chief operating officer for UC Physicians is expected to be announced soon.

Featured image at top: Exterior of the CARE/Crawley building, home to the office of the dean of the College of Medicine. Photo/Colleen Kelley/University of Cincinnati.

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Shawn Brown

Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean of the College of Medicine

University of Cincinnati

(513) 558-0049

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