Kiara K. Tierney
Oak Lawn
Summary
Dynamic executive with expertise in strategic initiatives, fiscal management, and operational excellence in academic medicine and clinical enterprises. Proven track record in building high-performing teams and streamlining processes to enhance organizational efficiency. Established partnerships with senior leaders and faculty to drive growth and innovation.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director / Chief Administrator
The University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division and UChicago Medicine
Chicago
01.2012 - 01.2025
- Directed operational and financial strategy for academic and clinical departments, overseeing 325+ personnel in the Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care.
- Responsibilities included leading management teams across finance, billing, HR, medical education, contracting, research, facilities, construction, IT, and clinical operations.
- Partnered with leadership to align anesthesia, critical care, pain, and perioperative medicine resources to meet clinical expectations.
- Implemented Qgenda Compensation Management to automate unscheduled physician payments, reducing manual processing time by ~40 hours monthly (July 2025).
- Modeled and executed a comprehensive faculty compensation plan, ensuring market competitiveness and alignment with qualitative and quantitative performance measures (May 2024).
- Conducted a full revaluation of the departmental funds flow model (138% improvement), recovering resource allocations and utilization, while strengthening budget accountability (March 2025).
- Launched independent CRNA billing program, generating 20% revenue growth in year one and sustaining 5% annual increases (July 2023).
- Directed recruitment, credentialing, and onboarding for 30 physician providers within 12 months (July 2024–July 2025), expanding workforce capacity, and operational efficiency.
- Provided strategic and operational oversight for clinical expansion, including three offsite pain medicine practices (opened in 2017, 2022, and 2024).
- Administered growth of 38 surgical locations on main campus, planning comprehensive anesthesia coverage for new hospital sites, including future free-standing cancer hospital (expected 2027).
- Enhanced patient access in pain medicine by 25% in FY 2025 through scheduling optimization and maximizing advanced practice providers' capabilities.
- Coordinated with section chief and administrator to review surgical device utilization and expenditures, improving supply selection for optimal efficiency and fiscal stewardship.
- Served as permanent steering committee member, establishing strategic plan for perioperative services, physician recruitment and retention, policy development, position vetting, and ambulatory operations, delivering targeted enhancements in high-priority dissatisfier areas.
- Directed establishment of department-specific administrative research core enhancing support for basic, clinical, and translational research; elevated clinical trial funding by 80% within first three years (established in 2018).
- Worked with physician leadership to formalize administrative expectations for medical directors, section chiefs, and education directors, enhancing alignment and accountability.
- Implemented two internship programs within department: clinical internship focused on ambulatory clinics for students training to become Advanced Practice Nurses and administrative internship for undergraduates seeking Bachelor of Health Administration, reinforcing talent pipeline and supporting workforce development.
Clinical Section Administrator
The University of Chicago Biological Sciences
01.2007 - 01.2012
- Oversaw operations for two clinical sections within Department of Medicine, coordinating efforts of 31 faculty, 20 staff, and 14 fellows while managing $6M in budgets.
- Facilitated administrative leadership in defining and implementing sections and Department of Medicine’s goals and objectives.
- Supervised all elements of section financial, strategic planning, and personnel management functions, securing alignment with departmental goals and industry best practice workflows.
- Directed administration of Nephrology, Transplant, and Infectious Disease ambulatory clinics; UChicago Kidney Stone Laboratory (CLIA certified), and bench research laboratories.
- Operated as professional fee Medical Biller managing all in-center Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Home Hemodialysis patient interactions.
- Facilitated contract negotiations with DaVita Inc. for four service sites, medical directorships, and dialysis services, yielding successful sales and enhancing strategic partnerships.
- Refined administrative procedures to remove redundancy and cut unnecessary costs, while facilitating cross-training to improve staff flexibility.
- Supervised numerous fellowship initiatives within both disciplines.
Financial Analyst II
The University of Chicago Hospitals
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Participated in establishment of inaugural Office of Clinical Research focused on regulatory compliance.
Oversaw monitoring of clinical research billing, encompassing insurance verification and audits.
Guaranteed compliance with regulations across all division-related clinical research activities. - Educated principal investigators and research coordinators on compliant research billing practices.
- Processed clinical research billing corrections enterprise-wide, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Facilitated training sessions to enhance understanding of billing regulations and requirements. - Performed random audits of research studies to validate charge accuracy and adherence to IRB-approved standards.
Chargemaster Analyst
The University of Chicago Hospitals
03.2005 - 07.2005
- Certified Professional Coder
- Oversaw management of 60,000+ CPT charge codes, aligning practices with reimbursement guidelines.
Performed audits to protect compliance and maximize revenue capture opportunities.
Administrative Assistant
The University of Chicago Hospitals
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Supported patient discharge planning to reduce inpatient length of stay.
- Coordinated 20 care unit nurse staffing schedules to optimize resource allocations.
- Functioned as patient care representative within Obstetrics & Gynecology ambulatory practices as needed.
Education
MBA - Healthcare Administration
Saint Xavier University Graham School of Management
Chicago, Illinois05-2007
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois05-2004
Skills
- Strategic analysis
- Budgeting and financial management
- Research Management
- Operations management
- Business growth strategies
- Service-oriented environment
- Critical thinking skills
- Talent growth & collaboration
- Staff management
- Faculty relations
- Compliance & risk mitigation
Affiliations
- American Society of Anesthesiologists, 01/01/19, Present
- American College of Healthcare Executives, 01/01/17, Present
- Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), 01/01/14, Present
- Bank the Blue 501(c)(3) advocates for police mental health, 01/01/25, Present
- Irish Fellowship Chicago, 01/01/25, Present
- Chicago Ridge Lions Charitable Foundation 501(c)(3), 01/01/24, Present
- Multiple Local Chambers of Commerce, 01/01/22, Present
- Youth Sports Coach – Volleyball, Softball, 01/01/10, Present
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Executive Director / Chief Administrator
The University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division and UChicago Medicine
01.2012 - 01.2025
Clinical Section Administrator
The University of Chicago Biological Sciences
01.2007 - 01.2012
Chargemaster Analyst
The University of Chicago Hospitals
03.2005 - 07.2005
Financial Analyst II
The University of Chicago Hospitals
01.2005 - 01.2007
Administrative Assistant
The University of Chicago Hospitals
01.2004 - 01.2005
MBA - Healthcare Administration
Saint Xavier University Graham School of Management
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Quincy University