Bazis named chief information security officer

Lisa Bazis has been named the medical center’s new chief information security officer.

Bazis succeeds Sharon Welna, who retired Jan. 2 after founding the information security program at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine 15 years ago.

As chief information security officer, Bazis leads a team of seven who manage and mitigate information technology security risks for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. The 24/7 operation uses automated tools to help safeguard the campus against cyberattacks. Health care organizations are growing targets because health care records can be used for identity theft or insurance fraud.

“My role is to ensure that we continue to teach, conduct research and treat patients in the most secure manner,” Bazis said. “Everyone wants to lead the world in their areas of expertise. It is the role of the Information Security Office to give them an armored vehicle to forge ahead.”

An Omaha native who loves to problem solve, Bazis joined UNMC ITS more than 18 years ago after earning her bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She began her tenure at UNMC on the network team and then joined the Information Security Office in September 2012, where she most recently served as security engineer II. Last month, she transitioned to Nebraska Medicine, where the information security program reports to Michael Ash, M.D. Dr. Ash serves as the executive vice president/chief transformation officer at Nebraska Medicine and as vice chancellor for information and technology and assistant professor of internal medicine at UNMC.

Bazis is pursuing her master’s degree in cybersecurity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She and her husband, Mark, enjoy skiing, hiking and spending time with their five children.