AdventHealth names chief clinical officer for West Florida division, and more | MED MOVES

Rajan “Raj” Wadhawan, MD, has been named chief clinical officer of AdventHealth’s West Florida Division.

Rajan “Raj” Wadhawan

Wadhawan will begin serving in the role on April 21. He’ll oversee the quality of care for the region’s 13 hospitals.

Most recently, Dr. Wadhawan served as the senior executive officer for AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women. He led a care network that includes more than 375 physicians and delivers more than 17,000 babies annually.

“This role provides the opportunity for me to help lead the clinical growth and advancement at our 13 hospitals in the Tampa Bay and Heartland regions, including expanding our specialty adult and pediatric services, while enhancing the quality of care,” Wadhawan said in a statement. “My philosophy is that no one should have to leave the area to receive world-class, whole-person care, and I’ve been challenged to deliver that same promise to communities in west Florida.”

Wadhawan will report to David Ottati, president and CEO of the West Florida Division.

“His extensive expertise and proven track record in leadership and strategy will be invaluable to our team.,” Ottati said in a statement. “I have full confidence in Dr. Wadhawan’s ability to drive innovation, foster collaboration and elevate the standard of care for our patients.”

Tommaso Falcone

Cleveland Clinic names inaugural leader of international markets

Tommaso Falcone, MD, has been appointed as Cleveland Clinic’s first executive vice president and president of international and emerging markets.

Falcone began in the new role April 1.

He is responsible for leading Cleveland Clinic’s strategic initiatives in international markets. He will also work closely with leaders with Cleveland Clinic London, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Cleveland Clinic Canada.

Tom Mihaljevic, MD, CEO and president of the Cleveland Clinic Health System, hailed Falcone’s leadership skills.

“Dr. Falcone’s distinctive experience as a proven leader, highly respected and innovative clinician, as well as his international experience will further position Cleveland Clinic for operational excellence consistently across our international markets,” Mihaljevic said in a statement.

Dr. Falcone first joined Cleveland Clinic nearly three decades ago. He began working with the system as a staff gynecologist. Falcone was appointed chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in 2002 and chair of the Women’s Health Institute in 2008.

Most recently, he was interim president of Cleveland Clinic London until June 2023. He also served as the first chief of staff of Cleveland Clinic London and played a key role in the development and opening of the hospital.

Andrew E. Place

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute names pediatric CMO

Andrew E. Place, MD, has been named vice president and chief medical officer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Place will work within the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. He’ll work to develop clinical strategies to improve care across both institutions.

He will play a key role in leading clinical operations involving oncology and stem cell transplant patients.

“I am thrilled and honored to lead the clinical operations of our Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant programs,” Place said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with our clinicians to deliver innovative, compassionate, and patient-centered care to children and young adults with cancer and blood disorders.”

Place has led Dana-Farber’s pediatric hematological malignancies program for the past six years, and has also served as the chief medical officer of Boston Children’s Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research.

He said he aims to develop more collaboration between the research efforts of Dana-Farber and Boston Children’s Hospital.

“I believe that the growth and innovation of our clinical services will depend highly on strengthening the connectedness between our two world-class institutions,” Place said in a statement. “I anticipate developing and implementing a shared vision for our clinical services that focuses on delivering expert care and improving the experience of providing that care.”

Place succeeds Lisa Diller, MD, who stepped down from the role at the end of 2023.

Dave Santoemma

Central Carolina Hospital elevates two leaders

Two leaders at Central Carolina Hospital have been elevated from interim positions to permanent posts.

Dave Santoemma has been named chief executive officer after serving in an interim capacity. Connette Gill has also been named the chief nursing officer after a period as interim CNO.

They assumed their new permanent roles on April 1. Central Carolina, a Duke LifePoint hospital, is based in Sanford, N.C.

Santoemma joins Central Carolina from Starr Regional Medical Center in Athens, Tenn., where he was the chief operating officer. Santoemma also served as the associate administrator at Saline Health System in Benton, Ark, and he has more than 19 years of healthcare experience.

Connette Gill

“Central Carolina Hospital stands as a cornerstone of the Sanford community, and I am eager to collaborate with the team to foster growth, enhance our services, and guarantee the exceptional care our community deserves,” Santoemma said in a statement.

Gill brings over 23 years in nursing leadership roles. She served as assistant chief nursing officer and director of cardiovascular ICU at Frye Regional Hospital in Hickory, N.C.

"While we continue to navigate the shifting healthcare environment and industry trends, I am excited to become an active and meaningful part this hospital and community, alongside Dave and the rest of the leadership team, in our pursuit to create places where people choose to come for healthcare, physicians and providers want to practice, and employees want to work,” Gill said in a statement.