Russell Averna

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russel_averna_headshot125xRussell Averna

Vice President of Human Resources — Partners Continuing Care

Russ Averna is the Vice President of Human Resources for Partners Continuing Care (PCC), the non-acute care services division of Partners HealthCare. Prior to joining PCC in 2010, Russ Averna had a twenty-six-year career with Jordan Hospital (now Beth Israel Deaconess, Plymouth) where he served as the senior Human Resources executive and had responsibilities for a number of clinical and support function departments. Russ also has experience working with a start-up pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge and Montreal where he assessed the company’s human resources systems, policies, and practices, with emphasis on compliance matters.

Russ received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a Masters in Business Administration from Cornell University. Additionally, while at Cornell he took healthcare related coursework and served a summer internship with the CEO of South County Hospital in Rhode Island, requirements to receive a certificate in healthcare administration.

He has been an arbitrator, hearing cases filed under the Massachusetts Lemon Law. His commitment to workforce development, career advancement, and worker training has been reflected in membership in various government and private Boards. He has worked in unionized as well as union-free enterprises.

Russ believes there are two main goals for effective Human Resources programming. The primary one is to reinforce a culture where colleagues work collaboratively and are united by a shared mission, demonstrate a common value system, and are laser-focused on the needs of patients and their families. The second is having an engaged staff that find their commitment to PCC rewarding on both a personal and professional level. PCC is led by a talented team that is driven to achieve both these goals.


Russell Averna will be an executive speaker for the Breaking into Health and Life Sciences Discussion at the inaugural Health & Life Sciences Conference taking place Thursday, March 22, from 12-6 PM. Sponsored by Color Magazine, The IXL Center, and Biogen.

@colormagazineusa