Kristi Gafford has been appointed the Health Center’s new chief of staff, effective May 4.

Gafford joins UConn from Wake Forest, where she served as the administrative director for its NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. She was responsible for directing the clinical operations and strategy development for the Center, including oversight of an ongoing 283,000 sq. ft. expansion program.

Gafford has more than 15 years of health care experience and her career background includes senior leadership roles in strategy, operations and human resources at both academic and large tertiary care hospitals and health systems. Institutions where she has worked include University of Missouri Health Care, Suburban Hospital and Washington Hospital Center. She also led strategy and operations at Mid America Health, a provider-owned health plan based in Missouri.

Gafford received her undergraduate degree from Duke University, a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins and a master’s in business administration from the University of Kansas.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Kiki Nissen, who has been serving as interim chief of staff,” says Dr. Frank Torti, incoming vice president of health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “Kiki took on this additional assignment shortly after I was appointed in February and has been a huge help to me during the transition period.”

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