Stephen Petersen, M.B.A., chief financial officer, is responsible for financial stewardship and long-term sustainability across the Knight Cancer Institute's research, clinical and educational programs. He has more than 20 years of executive financial leadership experience across leading academic health systems and cancer centers. Prior to joining the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, he served as vice president of finance at City of Hope Cancer Center, where he led strategic financial planning for the organization and provided financial leadership across its medical center, medical foundation, medical group, clinical trials and graduate medical education programs. 

Before City of Hope, Petersen spent more than a decade at University of Utah Health, ultimately serving as executive director of health system finance. There, he helped guide financial strategy for a $2.6 billion academic health enterprise. Petersen began his healthcare finance career at OHSU, serving in roles within the hospital and school of medicine from 2001 to 2005. His experience spans financial planning, capital strategy, operational improvement and governance support across complex, mission-driven healthcare organizations. 

Petersen holds an M.B.A. from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Utah. His early years at OHSU helped shape his professional path, and he is proud to return to support the Knight Cancer Institute’s mission.