Interview by Jonathan Kersting
What happens when one of Pittsburgh's most influential IT leaders steps down after decades at the helm — and hands the keys to someone who's been beside him for 26 years?
In this special episode from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's CIO Insights event, TechVibe's Jonathan Kersting sits down with outgoing UPMC CIO Ed McCallister and incoming CIO Chris Carmody to unpack a leadership transition unlike any other in Pittsburgh's tech community.
Ed recounts the early days of UPMC's health plan — starting from a blank whiteboard with no technology in place — and building it into one of the region's most powerful IT organizations. Chris shares his own journey from IT auditor to CTO, and how their two-decade-plus partnership made this succession feel less like a handoff and more like a shared torch finally finding its next bearer.
They discuss what great IT leadership really comes down to (hint: it's about people, not technology), the role of artificial intelligence in the future of healthcare, and what comes next for Ed — including time with his five-year-old grandson.
Whether you're in healthcare IT, leadership, or just love a great Pittsburgh success story, this conversation is a masterclass in succession planning done right.
Transcript:
It's not every day you get to witness the passing of the torch of IT leadership at one of Pittsburgh's biggest healthcare institutions. I'm talking about Ed McAlister passing the torch to Chris Carmody at UPMC. And I'm Jonathan Kersting with the Pittsburgh Technology Council, with a quick interview with both Ed and Chris talking about this historic transition of leadership at one of Pittsburgh's top IT employers and, of course, top healthcare providers.
Let's check out what they have to say. I'm very excited for the future of what's happening here in Pittsburgh with this leadership change. So check out my interview here at the Pittsburgh Technology Council's CIO Insights event
first off, thank you so much for hanging out with me this morning.
This is just very exciting. It's kind of like this historic moment here in Pittsburgh's tech community when we have the passing of the torch at UPMC- ... from Ed McAllister to Chris Carmody. So guys, once again- I love the drama. Yeah. No, it, it's a [00:01:00] big deal. That is very dramatic, yeah. I mean, when I saw the announcement, I was like, "Oh my God, like, it's a seismic shift."
But we know it's all going into great hands with Chris- Absolutely ... as far as that is. But to start off just real fast, Ed, first off, your tenure at, at, at UPMC, pretty amazing. Just give us a quick overrun of what you've done at UPMC over the years. Sure. Uh, the, you know, the journey's been fantastic, and it's all about the people.
So got to work with some such talented people over the years. But, uh, I was with an, another, uh, healthcare organization across town, uh, and they were starting a health plan at UPMC. And some folks reached out and they said, "Hey, we'd love for you to come over and, and kind of lead the technology team, uh, as we start this new health plan."
Initially, I was in my 30s, and I thought, "Why would I do that?" I think we had 82% market share at the time. And, and, uh, I stopped and thought about it and I said, "I'm not sure that I could sustain this for the next 30 years," uh, you know, and, and it sounded like such a, such a great challenge. And as I moved in, and I knew some people at UPMC, and, [00:02:00] uh, they were such quality people, I thought, "You know, this will be fun."
So- Absolutely ... that's, that's when I made the jump to UPMC, and the health plan, uh, evolved from there- Heck yeah ... from the fledgling health plan to, you know- Dude, to us here- Pretty amazing. Yeah, it's a- On the 60th floor here, like, seriously, I mean, you guys are such a presence in Pittsburgh. You do so much good for Pittsburgh.
Yeah. Not just saving people's lives, but also innovating new technology- Yeah ... investing in the community. So it's been quite the journey for you, I would say. I always say it was the best, it was the best job a CIO could have, because there was no technology. Exactly. So we got to start with a whiteboard and, and go from there and, and build, build onto it.
Absolutely. Uh, and, and the system, the UPMC system provider side was so supportive. Uh, you know, there... I don't think another health plan could've succeeded if they didn't have the UPMC in front of them- Absolutely ... in that, you know, at, at that time, at that point in time. Uh, so yeah, it's been a, it's been a great journey.
I get to, to work alongside Chris for the past 26 years. Whoa. Wait, back up. So you guys have been working together for 26 years? Pretty much. Oh, my goodness. So Chris, did you start 26 years ago at, at UPMC? I, I started, actually, I just hit my 20th [00:03:00] year. Okay. So I started here when I was in third grade.
Perfect. Like, I started the tech council in the fourth grade- So I recruit- So I understand. Yeah. I recruited him. Yeah. Okay. Very cool. Okay. So, so you guys have had this relationship for this long. We've known each other a very long time. Absolutely. Interesting. So what has your role been and how has it changed while, you know, working with Ed?
So similar to Ed, just little bit different industry. I started at Mellon Bank in IT out of college- Mm-hmm ... and then came over to UPMC as an IT auditor. I had no idea what that was or meant. Okay. But it was an, a good opportunity, and kinda had many different opportunities just over the years at UPMC and- We worked closely, um, in the early 2000s together on some special projects that were, um, board directives at the time for UPMC, so really got to know Ed, you know, at, at, at that time, um, just working together and getting real work done, which was so important and critical.
And then 12, 13, 14 years ago when Ed became CIO, that's when we really, um, formed our, our partnership and- [00:04:00] I love that ... you know, came into the role of CTO and- Oh ... just it's been a great partnership and great ride. Yeah. Well, first off, I think this is so incredibly fortunate for UPMC as an organization because when it's someone at Ed's stature is like, "Okay, I'm, I...
Time to go to my next phase in my life," I mean, he's carrying a lot of knowledge and just, I mean, just so much behind that. And to know that you can then transition that to someone who's been working side by side with you and to know that you can then advance your career and move up like that is g- this is just a really cool s- the stars aligned perfectly on this.
This is the- And by, by the way, we wouldn't wait till the 14th year. Chris, we've been together- Okay ... and, and we've shared knowledge- Yeah ... you know, the entire time. And, uh, you know, he's been such a- an outstanding asset to UPMC- Mm-hmm ... and to me personally- Yeah ... uh, that it, it's, it's really more of a, more of a transition.
It truly is a transition. Yeah. A passing of the torch. Uh, we've both been holding the torch for a while. Exactly. So it's just, it's just about, uh, you know, he, he'll hold the top of the torch now and I'll- Okay ... I'll step down toward the bottom of it. But, but we've been working and, and sharing knowledge and having success along the way- Very cool
with some, we [00:05:00] had some pretty, uh critical decisions along the way. I believe it. And, uh, a- and, you know, having Chris by my side has absolutely made that, uh, you know, that so much easier and, and, uh, and so much more confident in decisions that are being made when you have, you know, somebody like Chris by your side.
Absolutely. So Chris, you know, during your tenure working with Ed, give me like a cool story of something really neat that you guys worked on together. Jesus. You know, just to, just to kind of just show us that like- I don't- ... man, we're working on some cool stuff ... business, business things. Let's think about that.
No, I think, I think what's has set Ed apart all these years, and he, he talked about it in his little opening statement there, is about- Yeah ... the people, and how Ed treats people, and how people respond to him. It, it's amazing. It's just a, a great quality of who he is inside. Like, he actually cares about people and seeing that.
So- Mm-hmm ... we could be anywhere, and um, people come up to him, it's like he's the mayor or the governor- ... or some dignitary. No matter where, where we're at, it's always people gravitate towards Ed. And it's not- Yeah ... it's not about his CIO title or anything like that. Right. [00:06:00] No. It's about the person that he is.
He's a good dude, man, like everyone says. He's such a great, he's such a great person. You're gonna make me blush. He's, he's, he's not as good as a hooper as I was- ... and still am, 'cause we both played basketball. Now he was great athlete too. I go with the still am part, because you still am. I think it's- But, um, but no, it, it's really- I love it
about the core of who Ed is that really- Yeah ... I think, again, gravitates people towards him and with him. Yeah. And like that's really what's carried us over these number of years. I love it. Because it's not about the technology, it is about the people. Oh, that's so cool that you say that, because like without the people, the tech doesn't work.
And the chemistry that I see between you guys is just really cool. It's like you guys are literally two peas in a pod. So like Chris, you gotta start, you know, recruiting some folks so that in 20 years from now- Well- ... you can be like, "I'm passing the torch." We, we have, we have a lot of people that have been here longer than us- Okay
that are part of IT and part of UPMC. Yes. So that's, that is a great part about UPMC. Yeah. Once you're kinda in and you believe in our mission, which is pretty easy to, you know, gravitate towards- Absolutely ... you know, I think, I think we're, you know, well on our way here, but. That's amazing. It's a couple more questions, 'cause I know you gotta get you out there [00:07:00] for, for the, for the big presentation.
So Ed, what's next for you? I mean, it's always like I can't imagine you actually retiring, man. Come on. Well, I'm transitioning- Okay ... at the moment. Yes. You know. But, uh, yeah, it, it's, uh ... I'll tell you, I thought it would be pretty simple, honestly. Like when ... It, it's been since September 1st. Right. Uh, because Chris had a couple big events over the course of the summer.
Mm-hmm. Uh, one main one, he got married. Uh, so we, I got to, I got to enjoy- I thought it was winning CIO of the Year this year. Well, that one too. But okay, that's another. But, uh, but I actually, uh, it's been kind of a cool summer, um, because- In July, Chris got married. We came back September and we had a town hall with the IT sta- Okay
team and, and announced what was, what was going on. And I thought, "This is gonna be easy," because I've been here with Chris for such a long time. But I, I can tell you over the past couple of months, uh, I've been reflecting on, like, what is the next step. Mm-hmm. Um, because you do, you do have to plan for that.
I've had people giving me that advice. Uh, but y- you do have to plan. So it's in, it's a work in progress. Okay. But I will tell you, uh, it will be something. [00:08:00] Yeah. And I'm sure it'll be something great and exciting, and looking forward to it. Well, just tell us that you're sticking around Pittsburgh a little bit, just to make sure, 'cause we love you so much here.
You are so part of the fabric here, Ed, that you gotta at least stick around every once in a while and be like, "Hey, I'm still here." Well, well, thank you. Thank you for saying that. And I will be. Uh, mainly, well, you'd be the number one reason, but, uh, my five-year-old grandson- Awesome ... I kind of gravitate back toward, uh, my five-year-old grandson.
And, uh- Nothing wrong with that, man. Yesterday, yeah, uh, we picked him up Sunday and he stayed over, so yesterday, uh, I got a little glimpse of- Aw ... what the future could look like. That's so awesome. And it's, uh- All right ... and, and it's pretty positive. Cool. So speaking of the future, we'll wrap this thing up.
Chris, tell me about the future. You now kind of at the helm. What, what are some of the main things that you're really excited about doing as you step into this? I mean, I think, like a lot of different companies, excited about the future of technology- Yeah ... and, and really how enabling it can be. So when you talk about artificial intelligence, and really at this new level that we're operating in, you know, we've been, we've been using AI for 15 years, from a machine learning- I love hearing that
and, and just traditional, you know, basic [00:09:00] algor- algorithms that you'd compare that to what we have today. Just how we transform how we deliver care. 'Cause it all comes back, it all gravitates back towards how we take care of patients and take care of our health plan members, and- Mm-hmm ... you know, how we, how te- technology enables that to happen.
So that's what we're excited about, and accelerating that process. Awesome stuff. I'm like, seriously, I was like, I'm watching history in the making here, and it's just too much fun. I'm just really excited for both you guys, and I'm more ex- more importantly, I'm really excited for Pittsburgh and for UPMC.
And I think about how you guys... I mean, the tech you guys do, the, the, the connection to the community, how this is just gonna keep growing under some really cool leadership with Chris. Guys working together for as long as you have, I'm, I feel, I feel, Ed, I'm more, I'm more comfortable with the transition now.
I think it's gonna be okay. I appreciate that. By the way, the Pittsburgh Tech Council does a great job- Oh, thank you ... with what you do, and keeping the excitement, and keeping the- Yeah ... uh, focus on what's important in Pittsburgh. Appreciate that. You guys are the best, man. Absolutely. Good luck. I'll see you guys out there.
Okay. And we'll catch you on the next one, everybody.