Ochsner Health Appointed Wayman Cummings as CTO
The health system named the executive to lead both technology and cybersecurity functions.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in People
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Ochsner Health has appointed Wayman Cummings to serve as the organization's new chief technology officer. Cummings, who joined the New Orleans-based system in November 2024, will retain his current responsibilities as chief information security officer.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a strategic consolidation of leadership, as the organization looks to unify its technology and security departments under a single executive. This structure is intended to streamline operations across the system's expansive medical network.
Ochsner Health currently operates 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers throughout the region. Wayman Cummings brings nearly 12 years of experience from his tenure at IBM to the role.
The players
Wayman Cummings
He is the chief technology officer and chief information security officer at Ochsner Health who previously worked at Sysco and IBM.
Ochsner Health
It is a health system based in New Orleans that operates 47 hospitals and over 370 health and urgent care centers across the Gulf South.
The details
Cummings has been serving as the interim chief technology officer since June 2026 and plans to merge the system's technology and security organizations into one unified division. Before his arrival at Ochsner, he held roles at Sysco, Unisys, and the InfraGard Central Texas chapter.
Timeline
Cummings led InfraGard's Central Texas chapter from 2006 to 2012.
Cummings joined Ochsner Health in November 2024.
Cummings began serving as interim CTO in June 2026.
Cummings commented on the technology and security integration on October 11, 2026.
Market Landscape
The move reflects a broader industry trend where healthcare organizations are increasingly merging IT and security functions to combat sophisticated cyber threats. By unifying these departments, the system positions itself to better protect clinical data while maintaining digital infrastructure.
This leadership consolidation aims to improve the security and efficiency of digital tools used by patients at Ochsner facilities. Patients should expect more integrated digital health services as the system streamlines its underlying technical architecture.
The takeaway
Merging technology and cybersecurity leadership often improves response times to digital threats within large medical networks. Organizations that unify these roles often see improved resource allocation between innovation and data protection efforts.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit the New Orleans People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
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