Cincinnati Children’s names CIO, and more | MED MOVES

Tony Johnston has been named senior vice president of information services and chief information officer at Cincinnati Children's.

Tony Johnston (Photo: Cincinnati Children's)

He began the new role on July 1, the start of the organization’s new fiscal year.

Johnston succeeded Marianne James, who announced last October that she planned to retire after more than 35 years at Cincinnati Children's. Johnston had served as deputy chief information officer since that time, as well as vice president and chief technology officer.

Johnston began his career with Cincinnati Children’s in 1989 as a systems analyst.

"I'm passionate about finding ways that information technology can help Cincinnati Children's advance healthcare," Johnston said in a statement. "Members of our Information Services embrace working with medical providers to ensure that kids and families receive world-class care and an exceptional patient experience, and I'm honored to lead the IS team."

Johnston reports to Steve Davis, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children's.

"His understanding of our culture and his creative approach to serving patients, families and staff will enhance the ability to maintain and advance our place as a leader in digital and data strategy,” Davis said in a statement.

Gerald P. Oetzel (Photo: Temple Health)

Temple Health hires new CFO

Gerald P. Oetzel has been named chief financial officer of Temple University Health System.

He will join Temple in early September.

Oetzel brings more than 39 years of experience in healthcare to Temple, including 24 years as a chief financial officer.

Most recently, Oetzel spent more than four years as senior financial executive of Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System. He played a key role in the merger of the two organizations into an 11–hospital system.

But the move is also a bit of a homecoming for Oetzel.

Previously, he was CFO of Temple University Hospital from 2012-2019. He also spent 14 years as Jeanes Hospital CFO, and he played a role in the hospital’s merger into Temple Health.

Michael A. Young, president and CEO of Temple Health, said in a statement that Oetzel possesses “a passion for discovering solutions to problems and a talent for combining big picture and analytical data.”

Jon Ness (Photo: Kootenai Health)

Longtime Kootenai Health CEO plans to step down

After serving as CEO of Kootenai Health in Idaho for more than a decade, Jon Ness has announced his plans to retire.

Ness says he will step down in early 2024. He has been CEO of Kootenai Health since 2010.

The system says it will undertake a national search to find Ness’ replacement and hopes to find his successor within six to nine months.

Under Ness’ leadership, Kootenai Health has become a regional referral center for healthcare services for all of northern Idaho. Based in Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai is now Idaho’ third-largest health system with over 4,000 employees.

“Over my 13 years here I have grown very attached to the people, the values and the mission of Kootenai Health,” Ness said in a statement.

“It has been hard for me to think about leaving Kootenai Health, especially during and immediately after the challenges of COVID-19,” he added. “I simply couldn’t leave. However, I am in my late 60s and I have decided that now is a good time to announce that I will be retiring at the beginning of 2024. There will be no gap in time between my last working day and the start date for the new CEO.”

The Kootenai Health board has engaged the recruiting firm of Witt Kieffer to conduct a national search for CEO candidates.

Kootenai Health has recently moved to transition to a private, non-profit corporation, and the organization hopes the switch will make the CEO position more attractive to potential candidates.

Indiana hospital appoints new CEO

Perry Gay has been named the chief executive officer of Lutheran Downtown Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He took the new post on July 10.

Most recently, Gay served as the president and CEO for Logansport Memorial Hospital in Logansport, Indiana, where he has worked since 2015.

Previously, Perry worked as CEO at a hospital in Toppenish, Washington, and before that he held key leadership roles with hospitals in Washington and Florida.

“Perry brings strong leadership skills and the ability to translate objectives into actionable plans,” Jerry Henry, board chair of Lutheran Downtown Hospital, said in a statement. “I am confident that he will have a positive impact on Lutheran Downtown Hospital and advance the momentum that has been made since we opened.”

Notable Health gains new chief medical officer

Aaron Neinstein has been named the new chief medical officer of Notable Health.

He made the announcement in a post on LinkedIn on July 11.

Neinstein has most recently served as the vice president of digital health at UCSF Health.

In his announcement, Neinstein says he is making the move to play a role in helping technology transform healthcare.

“So now, as artificial intelligence hits an inflection point with the rise of large language models, I see a unique opportunity to have a massive, positive impact on the lives of millions of patients and caregivers,” Neinstein wrote. “Technology can be used to handle the mundane, burdensome tasks that no one likes doing, augmenting and supporting patients and providers, allowing them to focus on building real, human relationships.”

Neinstein has spent 16 years as an associate professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco.