Crystal Milazzo

About the Author

Crystal Milazzo

Senior Editor and Writer

Crystal Milazzo, MPA, has devoted her career to the administration of nonprofit organizations and executive communications. Based in Beaverton, Ore., Crystal is an award-winning speechwriter and currently a senior editor and writer, leadership communications, at HFMA. When she’s not working with the Association’s elected leadership, Crystal is shining a spotlight on the work and accomplishments of HFMA’s chapters and its members.

Latest Work

Phoenix Children’s selects Michelle Bruhn as new CFO

Phoenix Children’s — Arizona’s only freestanding children’s hospital — recently hired Michelle Bruhn, CPA, as executive vice president and CFO. In the new position, Bruhn will oversee finance, treasury, revenue cycle and managed care contracting as well as be directly responsible for fiscal policy, performance goals and planning. Bruhn most recently served as executive vice…

Crystal Milazzo September 28, 2023

Heffernan and Stoll honored with 2023 Morgan Awards

HFMA’s highest individual award — the Frederick C. Morgan Award for Individual Achievement — is awarded annually to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the Association over the course of a career. For only the third time since the award was first presented in 1959, two members received the special honor when the…

Crystal Milazzo August 28, 2023

8 Chapters receive 2023 HFMA Success Awards 

Each year, leaders of HFMA’s chapters and regions gather at the Leadership Training Conference to plan for the year ahead and to acquire the skills and resources needed to go back home and make it happen.   This year’s event took place April 16-18 in San Antonio, Texas. One of the highlights was the volunteer recognition…

Crystal Milazzo August 28, 2023

Multiple certifications earned by 37

A total of 2,079 people earned HFMA certifications from Jan. 1 through March 31, with 37  earning multiple certifications.  The HFMA certifications are as follows: Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting & Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist…

Crystal Milazzo May 30, 2023

Chapter News: Northern California Chapter’s new award honors outstanding women 

The Northern California Chapter’s annual women’s conferences have always been popular events. And this year’s conference, which took place May 5 at the Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville, California, was especially celebratory. That’s because the Chapter marked the event’s 10th anniversary by introducing a new award recognizing women leaders.  “Our Chapter wanted to develop…

Crystal Milazzo May 25, 2023

UASI names Nancy Koors as CEO 

Nancy Koors, MBA, MS, recently became CEO of UASI. The company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, provides revenue cycle management solutions including coding, clinical documentation integrity and healthcare information management, and consulting services.   Koors is an experienced C-suite executive who has held leadership positions at startups and mid-market organizations in various industries. She joined UASI in…

Crystal Milazzo April 27, 2023

Nebraska Chapter celebrates a legacy of leadership 

HFMA members often refer to fellow members as family. The term captures the close bond that forms out of shared interests and experiences. Actual family and HFMA family were recently one and the same, however, when Virgil Guthrie, a former Nebraska Chapter president, watched his grandson Kyle Teel, FHFMA, CPA, assume the same office he…

Crystal Milazzo April 27, 2023

Dennis Laraway joins Cleveland Clinic as CFO 

Dennis L. Laraway, MBA, officially joined Cleveland Clinic as CFO on March 13. An experienced financial leader, Laraway has held CFO positions at several large integrated health systems, including Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Most recently, he served…

Crystal Milazzo March 30, 2023

South Texas Chapter event exceeds expectations 

HFMA’s South Texas Chapter hosted a women’s leadership conference on Jan. 20 in Austin, Texas. The theme was Empower, Encourage, Elevate, and it was the first event of its kind for the Chapter. Things went so well that they’re already planning to do it again next year. Trying something different Amy Raymond, vice president of…

Crystal Milazzo March 29, 2023

Brent Feickert joins Jefferson County Health Center as CFO

Jefferson County Health Center (JCHC) recently welcomed Brent Feickert, MBA, as its new CFO. In addition to providing fiscal leadership for Iowa’s oldest county hospital, Feickert will oversee several departments at JCHC, including the business office, main hospital registration, materials management and environmental services.  A current member of HFMA’s Iowa Chapter, Feickert has more than…

Crystal Milazzo February 27, 2023