Barry R. Cesafsky, LFACHE

Barry R. Cesafsky serves as Senior Counsel at HealthSearch Partners, bringing more than four decades of proven experience in healthcare executive search. Originally trained as a healthcare executive, Barry transitioned into retained executive search in 1986 when he joined the renowned firm Witt Associates. There, he had the opportunity to work alongside some of the industry’s early pioneers. His leadership and expertise led to his promotion to partner during the firm’s expansion in the 1990s.

In 2001, Barry founded CES Partners, an executive search firm focused exclusively on healthcare leadership. His entrepreneurial vision and commitment to excellence guided the firm’s growth and ultimately its merger into what is now HealthSearch Partners. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for consistently delivering exceptional results for a wide range of healthcare clients—many of them industry leaders. Barry is known for his hands-on, client-focused approach, blending the professionalism of top-tier executive search with a personal, relationship-driven style.

In his current role, Barry works for select clients and provides mentorship and strategic guidance to the next generation of HealthSearch Partners leaders as they carry forward the firm’s mission-driven approach to executive search.

He is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (LFACHE), a designation recognizing his longstanding contributions to the field. Early in the program’s history, Barry was appointed to the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, as it began evaluating healthcare organizations for performance excellence.

Throughout his career, Barry has been an active member of numerous professional associations, including the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Barry attended DePauw University before earning his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago. He later received a master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from Xavier University, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award and served multiple terms on the Advisory Board for the university’s Program in Health Services Administration.

His leadership and service extend beyond the healthcare field. A longtime member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Barry has been recognized as a Significant Sig and was recently honored with the Seven Lights Alumni Award for over a decade of exceptional service. He holds Ritual Peer Certification and currently serves on the Boards of both the DePauw Xi Chapter House Corporation and Foundation. In 2024, he was appointed to the Board of the Oak Brook Historical Society, reflecting his passion for preserving local history.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Barry enjoys golfing, biking, and researching his family history. He and his wife, Marcia, divide their time between their homes in Oak Brook, Illinois, and Fort Myers, Florida.