Highmark Health names president for Allegheny Health Network | MED MOVES

James Benedict has been named the new president of the Allegheny Health Network.

James Benedict

Benedict has been serving as the network’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since 2017. Allegheny Health Network is the western Pennsylvania provider arm of Highmark Health, based in Pittsburgh.

The company described Benedict as one of the chief architects of the network’s turnaround and its nearly $2 billion capital investment and market expansion strategy.

Allegheny’s expansion included the construction of AHN Wexford Hospital, four new neighborhood hospitals, six new cancer centers, and other outpatient facilities.

Benedict moved to a leadership role with Highmark Health in July 2020, but due to the challenges in the provider industry, he returned to his post as COO of Allegheny Health Network in late 2022, the company said.

He will continue to report to Bruce A. Meyer, executive vice president and Western PA market president for Highmark Health.

Benedict has spent three decades in the healthcare industry. He previously served at TeamHealth, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to lead AHN and be part of this unique journey with Highmark Health to create a more effective, patient-centric and economically sustainable health and wellness model for the country,” Benedict said in a statement. “The challenges we face in our industry have been an inspiration to all of us who have spent the last several years building AHN’s foundation, improving the health experiences of our patients and making Western Pennsylvania a healthier place to live.”

Kerin Adelson

MD Anderson Cancer Center appoints chief quality officer

Kerin Adelson has been named the chief quality and value officer of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Adelson began her role March 20. She also is taking a faculty appointment in breast medical oncology. Since 2014, Adelson has served as chief quality officer and deputy chief medical officer at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.

She is a practicing medical oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in breast cancer. She has done extensive studies in health services and clinical care delivery.

Adelson will partner with José Rivera, the chief administrative quality officer, to lead MD Anderson’s medical practice quality improvement efforts and value-based care initiatives

She will also provide strategic oversight for the Institute for Cancer Care Innovation, patient care informatics medical directors, and teams working in clinical effectiveness, tumor registry and quality improvement of the cancer network.

“As one of the world’s most respected cancer centers, MD Anderson has an unparalleled opportunity to impact cancer care delivery on a national and international level,” Adelson said in a statement. “I am tremendously excited to join this stellar community and partner with world-renowned clinicians and scientists to advance MD Anderson’s strategic vision and mission.”

Carolyn Kloek

OU Health names first chief medical officer

Carolyn Kloek has been appointed as OU Health’s inaugural chief medical officer.

Kloek will be responsible for the performance of clinical services in terms of quality, safety, experience and efficiency, the system says.

“I am delighted for the opportunity to serve in the position of inaugural chief medical officer for OU Health,” Kloek said in a statement. “I look forward to being a part of the continued growth and success of OU Health and ensuring systems and processes are in place so that we can provide safe and effective care to all Oklahomans, with excellence and dedication.”

She has served extensively in leadership roles, including vice chair of quality and innovation at Dean McGee Eye Institute. Kloek has also served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Integration at OU Health since 2019.

She speaks regularly on clinical outcomes and is a published physician scientist in the field of ophthalmology.

Kloek has held numerous leadership roles, including clinical director of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Longwood; chief of the division of ophthalmology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; and associate chief of ophthalmology for Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

She served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for 12 years.

Ikenna (Ike) Mmeje

USC Arcadia Hospital gets new CEO

Ikenna (Ike) Mmeje is the new president and CEO of USC Arcadia Hospital.

Keck Medicine of USC named Mmeje as the new leader earlier this month. Mmeje took the new position on March 13.

Mmeje replaces Dan Ausman, the former president and CEO, who is retiring after a long and successful career in health care, including 12 years with USC-AH.

“I am humbled and excited to join USC Arcadia Hospital,” Mmeje said in a statement. “The hospital has a rich 120-year history of caring for patients and the community, and I look forward to advancing its legacy and mission far into the future.”

Prior to joining Keck Medicine, Mmeje served as chief operating officer (COO) of both MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. Previously, he held CEO and COO roles with Tenet Healthcare.

“Mmeje will utilize his wealth of knowledge and experience running complex, high-performing hospitals in his new role leading USC Arcadia Hospital,” Rod Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine, said in a statement.