Jennifer Burkhardt was recently named Olympic Medical Center’s new Chief Human Resources Officer.

She replaces Richard Newman, who retired on Jan. 9 after 17 years leading OMC’s human resources office.

“I am pleased I had an opportunity to work with Rich for nearly five years here at OMC and I will miss him,” Burkhardt said. “I look forward to stepping into the role of CHRO and continuing the work he started so many years ago.”

Burkhardt is already an executive at Olympic Medical Center, serving as general counsel for the organization. She will continue to oversee legal matters, contracts and employee relations and will now fully oversee all human resource duties as well as risk management, nutrition services, environmental services, security, and marketing and communications.

“Jennifer joined OMC as general counsel and our employee relations lead and has grown tremendously in the role,” Eric Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Olympic Medical Center, said.

“Jennifer has played an important part in our legislative advocacy efforts at the state and federal level, in strategic planning, employee engagement, and many other areas. She will continue to be an asset to OMC in this role.”

In her first year as Chief Human Resources Officer, Burkhardt will continue work that has begun on workforce development initiatives, talent acquisition, employee engagement and modernizing human resource processes, OMC officials said last week.

Burkhardt earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. She previously worked for Providence, covering Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.

Originally from Port Angeles, she and her family sought to return home and in August 2003 landed a position at OMC. She has also worked for Group Health (now Kaiser Permanente).