Joanne Burns is Cerner vice president, chief information officer and executive director for the University of Missouri Health System’s Tiger Institute for Health Innovation. She is responsible for leveraging information technology (IT) as a strategic asset at MU Health Care (MUHC).

Burns also has responsibility for Tiger Institute initiatives including the Living Lab, Research Collaboration, and Tiger Institute Health Alliance with the goal of positioning MUHC as a Top 5% organization in the use of health care IT to achieve quality metrics and outcomes.

Previously, Burns was vice president, Global and Specialty Solution Strategy, Navigator Organization, serving as the Intellectual Property (IP) lead for the academic and pediatric communities for six years. She was responsible for the development of PowerChart Oncology™, PowerChart Maternity® and FetaLink®.

In addition to setting strategy to meet the unique needs of our international clients around the world, Burns was also responsible for the academic and children’s hospital segments. She oversaw the Solution Partner Program, which ensures that Cerner’s clients are involved in the development and testing of new solutions and capabilities.

Burns joined Cerner in 2004 and was instrumental in solidifying Cerner’s presence in the pediatric hospital market. She also helped create communities within Cerner to meet the needs of client constituents for which she is responsible through leadership councils, special interest groups and focus groups.

Prior to joining Cerner, Burns worked in the health care industry for 22 years. She gained experience in a number of clinical and IT leadership roles at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and Stanford University Medical Center and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, and spoken in national forums on a variety of topics related to oncology care, critical care and the use of information technology in health care.

Burns received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She also has a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of San Francisco.