James Cervantes

Senior Vice President, Regional Health Systems Practice Lead

With his background in strategy, operations and performance improvement for healthcare providers including academic medical centers and physician groups, James Cervantes is a richly experienced and trusted advisor within our National & Academic Health Systems Practice.

Over his career, Cervantes has worked closely with executives and senior leaders to implement key strategic initiatives; to author communication, policies and procedures and to advance programs focused on growth and improvement. Adept at managing multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously, Cervantes often serves as an extension of the C-suite, regularly engaging in communications with physicians and health system leaders.

Before joining Jarrard, Cervantes led optimization and administrative operations for Northwestern Medicine’s Regional Medical Group. There, he developed their dyad leadership structure and professional development program and oversaw optimization projects focused on improving access, advancing new care models and growing the physician platform.

Prior to Northwestern, he served as an internal consultant and advisor to the Penn Medicine leadership team where he also led access and capacity management for their faculty physician group. Earlier, he held positions at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and ECG Management Consultants in Washington DC.

Cervantes received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University, graduate degree in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University and completed an Administrative Fellowship with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He is Lean Six Sigma certified and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Worth Knowing:

1. Ran two Ragnar Relays
2. Makes the perfect paella
3. Former Hoosier and Hoya