Lovelace Regional Hospital

Nicholas Shirilla

Chief Executive Officer

Bio

Nicholas Shirilla joins Lovelace Regional Hospital from UT Health Athens in Athens, Texas, where he has served as associate administrator for the last year and a half. During his tenure there, Shirilla was the leading operator of the 127-bed facility. He developed multiple initiatives to increase the facility’s Net Promoter Score by 25%, operationalized a sleep center in Athens and led the development of an agreement to provide nephrology call coverage for the hospital, clinic space and the development of a dialysis program.

Prior to his time at UT Health Athens, Shirilla served as associate administrator for Lovelace Medical Center, where he provided strategic direction to radiation oncology, imaging, environmental services, dietary, therapies department, safety, transport, lab and COVID-19 tents and screeners.

Shirilla is a graduate of Western Michigan University and holds a master of science in health care delivery from Arizona State University.

Andrea Solin

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Bio

Andrea has been with Lovelace since 1997 and brings more than 20 years of financial experience, having spent the past four years serving as chief financial officer (CFO) of Lovelace Westside Hospital. Andrea is responsible for the financial operations for the 80-bed, acute care hospital, as well as managing its Dietary, Therapy, Plant Operations, Security, and EVS departments. Under Andrea’s leadership, Lovelace Westside Hospital decreased its denials by 47% and recovered significant funds lost for the pediatric dentistry program, due to coding errors found. Her hospital has also been twice named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare during her tenure and has been awarded 4 Stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2017-2019).

Before serving as CFO of Lovelace Westside Hospital, Andrea was the CFO for Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital (formerly Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital). She has also held the positions of Controller and Division Finance Director.

Prior to coming to Lovelace, Andrea worked for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, where she honed her financial budgeting and project management skills.

Andrea completed her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at the University of New Mexico. Her and her two children live in Rio Rancho.

Community Engagement

  • Elected to Local Chapter of Healthcare Financial Management Board 2013-2015
  • Pack 1974 Cub Scout Treasurer 2015-2017
  • Recipient of Rio Grande District Leadership Volcano Award 2017
  • Nominated to Albuquerque Business First – Top CFO Award
  • Troop 174 Committee Member 2019

Christy Escandon

Chief Nursing Officer

Bio

Christy Escandon joins Lovelace from UT Health Tyler in Ardent Health Services’ East Texas market, where she served as CNO for the 502 bed hospital. As CNO, she helped UT Health Tyler maintain its Leapfrog Hospital Safety Group “A” grade and achieved The Texas Hospital Association Bill Aston Award for Quality in 2020. Escandon also implemented policy standardization, negotiated and coordinated IV pump conversion, coordinated improved restraint management and monitoring and supported increased capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to serving at UT Health Tyler, Escandon was CNO for Texas Health Resources in Plano, Texas, where she provided oversight of the 384 bed hospital. She also served as its executive sponsor for heart and vascular, women infants and children (WIC) and trauma service lines.

Escandon received a bachelor of science degree in nursing, a master’s degree of business administration from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and a master of science degree in nursing from Western Governors University in Millcreek, Utah. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) and the North Texas Organization of Nurse Leaders (NTONL).