MED MOVES: AAMC announces new chief health officer, and more

Jonathan Jaffery has been named the next chief healthcare officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Jonathan Jaffery

AAMC announced Jaffery’s hiring Oct. 31. Jaffery is chief population health officer at UW Health, the integrated health system of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is president of the UW Health Accountable Care Organization.

He will join the AAMC on Dec. 31. Jaffery succeeds Janis Orlowski, who retired earlier this year.

The AAMC said in a news release that Jaffery “will lead the AAMC’s work at the intersection of academic medical centers and health care delivery systems with a focus on innovations to improve care.”

Jaffery said he is excited to help support the AAMC’s mission.

“Throughout my career, I have cared for complex individuals and populations, working to reduce health disparities and implement innovative care models,” Jaffery said in a statement.

“Having spent the last decade leading the transformational efforts of an academic medical center that excels at the three traditional missions of education, research, and clinical care to a health system that provides access to high quality, affordable, and equitable care to all communities, I am excited to take on this role to advance the AAMC’s missions of patient care and health equity.”

He is a board-certified nephrologist and a member of several professional organizations.

Eugene Washington

Duke Health leader to step down in 2023

A. Eugene Washington, chancellor for health affairs at Duke University and president and CEO for the Duke University Health System, is stepping down next year.

Washington has announced that he will step down from both roles on June 30, 2023.

As Washington’s tenure draws to a close, he has led the creation of the Duke Health Integrated Practice, a new provider-led organization within the Duke health system.

Washington has also led efforts to broaden healthcare programs at the university and in the surrounding community, he has expanded research programs, and focused on improving health equity.

Washington has helped Duke secure more federal research money. Duke University School of Medicine ranked third in the country for National Institutes of Health funding, up from 13th in 2015, according to the 2021 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research report.

“Gene Washington’s tenure will be remembered as among the most consequential periods in the history of Duke Health, both in its achievement and for its exemplary demonstration of leadership in moments of challenge,” Duke University President Vincent E. Price said in a statement.

“At no time was this more apparent than with the rapid mobilization of our research, education, patient care and community health missions to equitably treat thousands of COVID-19 patients and safeguard public health locally and globally. Duke Health demonstrated remarkable capability and unity of purpose for all to see.”

Duke plans to conduct a nationwide search for Washington’s successor, with plans to be announced in the coming weeks.

Arturo Polizzi

ProMedica installs new chief executive

Arturo Polizzi is serving as ProMedica’s new chief executive officer.

Randy Oostra

Polizzi began serving in the new role on November 1, 2022. He succeeds Randy Oostra, who retired after 25 years with the organization.

Polizzi began his career at ProMedica in 1998, initially serving as an in-house attorney. Over the past 20 years, he has served in various leadership roles at the organization, including associate general counsel, chief human resources officer and president of the metro Toledo ProMedica hospitals.

Polizzi served as the president and CEO at Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati, Ohio before returning to ProMedica as chief operating officer in 2020.

“I’ve worked closely with Arturo for many years, and I’m confident he will be an exceptional CEO for ProMedica,” Oostra said in a statement. “We have been working on a transition plan for some time, and despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, he is well prepared to continue moving the organization toward long-term financial stability and success.”

Oostra said serving ProMedica “has been the highlight of my career.”

“Together, we have made meaningful progress in the way health care is delivered,” Oostra said. “It has been a true honor and privilege to lead ProMedica and serve our communities.”

Brenna Farmer

NewYork-Presbyterian hospital promotes emergency medicine chief

Dr. Brenna Farmer has been named chief of the department of emergency medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

She began in her new role on October 11, 2022. Farmer is also an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.

She most recently served as vice chief of clinical services in the emergency medicine department at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Hospital.

“I am thrilled to lead the emergency medicine team at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital,” Farmer said in a news release. “My goal is to provide the highest quality care in the safest and most timely way possible, and I strive to treat patients the way I would want my own family to be treated.”

Farmer joined NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine in 2009 and has held several senior leadership roles. She will focus on improving patient safety and closing disparities in care.

“Dr. Farmer is an extraordinary leader and physician dedicated to advancing emergency care, and we are pleased to have her lead the Department of Emergency Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital,” Dr. Rahul Sharma, emergency physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, said in a statement.

Kathryn Bertany

Bozeman Health names interim CEO

Kathryn Bertany has been named the interim president and chief executive officer of Bozeman Health.

She started in her new role on November 1, 2022.

Bertany succeeds John Hill, who stepped down from his position.

"The board of directors and I have mutually agreed that I will end my tenure as CEO of Bozeman Health at the end of this month,” Hill said in a statement.. “I have the highest regard and respect for our board of directors, my executive and leadership colleagues, and the entire Bozeman Health team. They have my admiration and ongoing support as they navigate these unprecedented and complex challenges in the healthcare industry.

Bertany has 30 years of experience as a pediatrician and nearly two decades of experience in healthcare leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Bozeman Health’s president of Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital and Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.

Before joining Bozeman Health, Bertany was the vice president of medical affairs at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. She also served at Valley Medical Center, where she was the chief medical officer. She also served as administrator and executive medical director for St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise, Idaho.

“I am honored to serve as interim CEO, supporting our teams at Bozeman Health in achieving their goals of providing the best care to patients and their families,” she said in a statement.

Bozeman Health is beginning a national search for a new CEO.

Nate Malcolm

BayCare hospital hires new president

Nate Malcolm has begun his new role as the president of St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of BayCare Health System in Tampa, Florida.

Malcolm assumed his new role on Oct. 31. He will focus on improving patient safety, quality and financial performance.

He brings 20 years of healthcare leadership. Malcolom previously served as the vice president of operations of Central Chicago Service Area at Advocate Aurora Health.

He also served as vice president of operations at Ascension Health, market chief operating officer at Dignity Health and chief operating officer at Tenet Health.

“I’m excited to join BayCare and St. Joseph’s Hospital because of the highly engaged, innovative, and mission driven leaders, team members, and physicians who help provide a remarkable network of services and phenomenal quality of patient care to the community,” Malcolm said in a statement.

“I look forward to helping build upon St. Joseph’s Hospital legacy of success, foster the best place to work and an inclusive culture for team members and physicians, attain high clinical quality outcomes, enhance access for patients, and achieve strategic growth initiatives.”