Renown Welcomes Jim D. Thomas as Vice President, Data Center and Networks
Renown Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim D. Thomas, CHCIO, MBA as the new Vice President for Data Center and Networks. With a distinguished career in healthcare technology and executive leadership, Jim brings a wealth of experience and expertise to overseeing data center operations, network, and infrastructure engineering/architecture for Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated academic healthcare network serving over 1 million residents across Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. Mr. Thomas begins his new role on March 31, 2025, and joins Steven Ramirez, VP and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Kathleen Zaski, Vice President of Enterprise IT Applications, in reporting to Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer for Renown Health.
In his new role, Jim will implement strategies that further the organization’s strategic goals and identify methodologies to improve the organization’s technology stack, products, and services. This role oversees Renown’s data center operations, which include Infrastructure Engineering/Architecture, Network, Voice/Telecomm, Data Center and Medical Imaging Team (MIT), and the Analytics and Data Engineering Teams.
Jim D. Thomas has a proven track record of aligning IT strategies with organizational goals to achieve operational excellence in the healthcare industry. His extensive background includes roles such as Chief Information Officer at Akeso Occupational Health in Irvine, CA, where he led IT strategy, growth, and innovation across a network of clinics. At City of Hope, Jim served as Vice President & Chief Technology Officer for the $4B National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, transforming enterprise technology and delivering innovation in a fast-paced healthcare environment. His leadership at Kaiser Permanente and Optum, Inc. further highlights his ability to drive results-oriented strategies and foster innovation.
Jim's core competencies include strategic IT leadership, data center migration, enterprise architecture, digital innovation, and regulatory compliance. He has successfully spearheaded initiatives such as Electronic Health Record migration, cloud and data strategy development, and the implementation of advanced digital strategies including telehealth and AI/Machine Learning.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jim D. Thomas to Renown Health as our new VP of Data Center and Networks," said Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer, Renown Health. "He brings a wealth of experience and a strategic vision that will be instrumental in strengthening our infrastructure to enhance patient care. We look forward to his leadership in advancing our data center and network capabilities to support our affiliation with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and support our growing not-for-profit academic healthcare network in meeting the needs of our community. We welcome Jim to our Renown Health family."
Jim holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix and is an active member of several professional organizations, including CHIME, ACHE, and HIMSS. Mr. Thomas is also a third-generation Marine Corps veteran who served his country during the First Gulf War.
As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center has been named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022. Renown Health has earned the “Best Place for Working Parents” designation as a family-friendly workplace in Nevada, and by Forbes as a Best Place to Work in Nevada (2024).