Ochsner Health Appointed New Chief Technology Officer
The health system has named Wayman Cummings to lead its unified technology and cybersecurity operations.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in People
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Ochsner Health has appointed Wayman Cummings as its new chief technology officer, formalizing a role he has held on an interim basis since June. He will continue to serve as the organization's chief information security officer while overseeing both functions.
Why it matters
The appointment signals a move to integrate technology and security under one leader to streamline operations across the system. This consolidation aims to unify technical strategy for a massive footprint of 47 hospitals and 370 health and urgent care centers.
Ochsner Health currently maintains an extensive network of 47 hospitals and over 370 health and urgent care centers. Wayman Cummings brings experience from his 12-year tenure at IBM and leadership roles at Sysco and Unisys.
The players
Ochsner Health
A major health system based in New Orleans that operates 47 hospitals and over 370 health and urgent care centers throughout the Gulf South.
Wayman Cummings
The newly appointed chief technology officer and chief information security officer with past experience at IBM, Sysco, and Unisys.
The details
Wayman Cummings intends to merge the currently distinct technology and security organizations into a single, cohesive team. This structural shift reflects a broader trend of integrating IT infrastructure with cybersecurity protocols to protect patient data while maintaining uptime in a clinical environment. Cummings joined the organization in November 2024 and previously led the Central Texas chapter of InfraGard.
Timeline
2006 to 2012: Cummings served as president of InfraGard's Central Texas chapter.
November 2024: Cummings joined Ochsner Health.
June 2026: Cummings began serving as interim CTO.
October 11, 2026: Cummings commented on the technology and security integration.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows a documented industry trend of consolidating IT and security leadership to address the increasing complexity of clinical data protection. The shift marks a departure from silos, placing Ochsner Health among the systems prioritizing unified technical oversight.
Operators in the healthcare space should watch for how this consolidation affects vendor procurement and software integration timelines. Aligning security protocols with IT delivery often requires businesses to review current service-level agreements and compliance reporting requirements.
The takeaway
Merging technology and security functions can reduce friction but requires close coordination between IT infrastructure and security compliance teams. Keep an eye on how these consolidated departments manage third-party software evaluations in the upcoming quarters.
Further reading
Learn more about organizational leadership changes in the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
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