Two C-Suite Leaders Join Iona University as Executives-in-Residence, Strengthening New Master’s Degree in Healthcare Leadership & Innovation
Tom Halloran ’87, CPA and Tom Wiffler ’92 will serve as mentors and host in-person residency weekends for new online degree program geared toward working professionals
New Rochelle & Bronxville, N.Y. – Iona University is proud to announce Tom Halloran ’87, CPA, former CEO of Fidelis Care New York, and Tom Wiffler ’92, CEO of One Pass and former CEO of UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, as the inaugural executives-in-residence for its new Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership & Innovation degree program.
As distinguished alumni with extensive C-suite experience, Halloran and Wiffler will support the development and implementation of curriculum, offer guidance to students through mentorship and virtual office hours, and host in-person residency weekends alongside other health care industry leaders.
The new degree – designed in a flexible, online format for working professionals – is a collaboration between the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, the LaPenta School of Business and the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Bringing together expertise in health care, business, artificial intelligence and innovation, this 30-credit interdisciplinary program is designed for working professionals looking to advance their careers. In addition to the flexible online coursework, the program also features in-person weekend residencies and an experiential curriculum rooted in real-world challenges. Students will further gain practical insight through guest lectures, case studies, and engagement with leading health care organizations.
The announcement reflects Iona’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance, preparing graduates to drive meaningful impact in a rapidly evolving health care landscape. Positions in the field of medical and health services management are expected to grow by 28 percent nationwide over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, with growth as high as 42 percent or greater in some regions.
Learn more or apply today via the Healthcare Leadership & Innovation program page. For more information, you may also contact Suzana Pavisic, director of graduate admissions for the LaPenta School of Business and the Hynes Institute, at spavisic@iona.edu or (914) 633-2451.
MEET THE EXECUTIVES-IN-RESIDENCE
Tom Halloran ’87, CPA
Halloran is a results-oriented executive with nearly 20 years of C-suite experience, including six years as CEO of Fidelis Care New York, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a Fortune 25 Company. His professional career has been grounded in his background as a CPA and complemented by 15 years of turnaround experience as an Andersen Partner and founding managing director at Huron Consulting Group.
As CEO, Halloran guided Fidelis through a rapidly evolving health care landscape, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over his six-year tenure, the plan grew to serve 2.4 million members; strengthened relationships with regulators; and advanced quality initiatives in support of its mission.
As CFO at Fidelis, Halloran led the financial aspects of a two-year sale process and advised the Board of Directors, which culminated in a multi-billion-dollar transaction with Centene in 2018.
Halloran is retiring from Fidelis and looks forward to sharing his leadership experiences across the health care industry to enhance customer experience through innovation to advance growth and quality.
“Health care leaders are being challenged in today's environment to drive innovation to improve long-term quality of care while reducing administrative burden and enhancing customer engagement,” Halloran said. “I am excited to have a role in the MS in Healthcare Leadership & Innovation at Iona University, which will equip future health care professionals with the skills and knowledge to navigate and transform a rapidly evolving and complex health care landscape. I believe this program will develop leaders through data-driven decision-making to translate research into practice, shape health policies and drive systemic innovation that enhances patient outcomes and public health. Iona's values of service, community and leadership will prepare students to excel in health care systems and lead with compassion, ethical responsibility and commitment to social justice.”
Tom Wiffler ’92
Wiffler is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in finance, operations, business development and strategic relationship management. Wiffler is the CEO of One Pass and former CEO of UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, a national ancillary benefits company, serving more than 53 million members in commercial and government programs.
Wiffler joined UnitedHealthcare in 1999 and has held various leadership positions, including CEO of UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans (TRICARE) and CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Illinois. Early in his career, he worked in banking and insurance in New York City.
Wiffler’s professional career began as a logistics officer and company commander in the United States Marine Corps. He currently serves on the Executive Advisory Council of the LaPenta Business School at Iona University. He earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a BBA in finance from Iona University. He is a former major in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Health care leaders must continue to actively engage across the broad and complex U.S. health care ecosystem to help people become and stay healthy. It is imperative to foster innovation, deliver simplicity, and address significant challenges with courage and determination,” Wiffler said. “The MS in Healthcare Leadership & Innovation at Iona University empowers professionals to lead with the vision and integrity needed to reimagine care delivery and build resilient, patient-centered systems and organizations. I am honored to be part of this transformative program and help develop the next generation of health care leaders who will make a lasting impact.”
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.