Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Appoints Lisa Avellino, MSOL, as Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Officer

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, January 9, 2025 — Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation-focused healthcare, announces the appointment of Lisa Avellino, MSOL, as Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Avellino brings a 20-year track record of excellence in leading information technology initiatives, driving digital innovation, and fostering collaboration across healthcare, education, and research institutions.Her early career began on the frontlines of healthcare as an EMT and surgical technologist – experiences, she says, that shaped her deep understanding of the vital connection between technology, patients, and clinicians.

Prior to joining Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, Avellino served as Chief Information, Security, and Technology Officer at Moses Weitzman Health Center. She also served as Director of IT and Communications Operations at Yale New Haven Health System, where she led transformative projects that enhanced operational efficiency.

Avellino earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. Passionate about mentoring future leaders, she also served as an adjunct professor of healthcare informatics in the Master’s program at Sacred Heart University.

"Lisa brings exceptional expertise and a patient-first mindset to Gaylord at a pivotal moment in our digital evolution," said Sonja LaBarbera, President and CEO of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare.

"Her leadership will build upon Gaylord’s legacy of excellence and innovation through technology-driven solutions and support our vision to redefine rehabilitation care and outcomes."

“Gaylord is a cornerstone of Connecticut’s healthcare system, recognized not only for its exceptional patient care but also for its commitment to innovation,” Avellino said. “I am honored to join this remarkable team and look forward to building on the organization’s legacy of excellence by leveraging technology to improve the lives of patients and providers alike.”

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Gaylord's Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a hub for accelerating world-class rehabilitative research, technology development and innovation to improve the quality of life and function of people around the world. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehabilitative care driven by clinical experience, innovation and human compassion.