MED MOVES: Henry Ford Health System appoints veteran leader as CEO, and more

Robert Riney

Robert Riney has been named the president and CEO of the Henry Ford Health System.

A leader who has spent more than four decades with Henry Ford Health, Riney succeeds Wright Lassiter III, who left to take over as CEO of CommonSpirit Health. Riney had been serving in an interim capacity since August.

Riney, who joined Henry Ford Health in 1978, has held leadership posts all across the system.

“Henry Ford is home,” Riney said in a statement. “Home to incredible innovation, cutting-edge science, and an unwavering commitment to our colleagues and to the communities we serve. It’s a place where, despite even the most daunting of challenges, making the impossible possible happens every day.

“I am energized and excited to lead this special organization. I look forward to Team Henry Ford continuing to innovate, excel and grow in serving our patients, members, communities and each other.”

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David Breen, chairman of the system’s board, called Riney the ideal leader for the system.

“His strategic insights and ability to foster meaningful business partnerships and drive advancement of our clinical, research and academic distinctions are noteworthy. Additionally, he is very skilled and focused on fostering a culture of belonging between team members, patients and members, and our communities,” Breen said.

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Montez Carter

Trinity Health Of New England chooses new leader

Montez Carter, has been named president and chief executive officer of Trinity Health Of New England.

Carter takes the new role on October 3. He succeeds Reginald J. Eadie, who has been CEO of Trinity Health Of New England since 2018. Eagle will go on to serve as senior vice president of physician enterprise development for Trinity Health, based in Livonia, Mich.

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Trinity Health Of New England operates four acute care hospitals and a rehabilitation hospital, and the system employs 11,000 people. Carter was chosen following a nationwide search.

Carter began his career as a pharmacist and moved up to hospital leadership. He joined St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Georgia, in 2010 as vice president of operations. He later served as president of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro and president of St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens.

Most recently, he served as president and CEO of St. Mary’s Health Care System, which includes three hospitals, a medical group, home health care/hospice agency, outpatient facilities and a retirement community.

Carter said in a statement that he welcomes “this exciting new opportunity.”

"My promise is to keep our patients at the center of everything we do,” Carter said. “By continuing to embrace innovation and transformation of healthcare delivery, we commit to provide the highest quality care, enhanced access and convenience, and unrivaled patient caring delivered by our devoted healthcare professionals."

James C. Smith, chairman of the board of Trinity Health Of New England, said Carter “has unique depth and perspective in all areas of hospital operations, including clinical services, performance improvement, and high-quality patient care and safety."

Sylvia Trent-Adams

U. of North Texas Health Science Center makes historic choice

Sylvia Trent-Adams has been named as the president of The University of North Texas Health Science Center.

A former deputy surgeon general of the U.S., Trent-Adams becomes the first Black woman to lead a health science center in Texas, the organization said.

She was also the first Black woman to serve as Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and was also the first Black woman to be named Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health.

Trent-Adams succeeded Michael Williams, who became chancellor of the UNT System on Jan. 1 and served as HSC’s president during the search process. Before becoming president, Trent-Adams served as HSC’s executive vice president and chief strategy officer.

“From the first time I set foot on the HSC campus in January 2020, I could feel the energy and tell that there was something different about this university,” Trent-Adams said in a statement. “It’s the desire to make a difference in people’s lives, and it’s the reason I came to HSC.

“From its founding, HSC set its sights on making a difference, and more than 50 years later, the HSC community continues to change the world every day through world-class research, teaching, patient care and service,” she said. “What is special about HSC is that it does this with an uncommon mix of innovation and compassion. I look forward to working with faculty, students, staff, alumni and community members to build on this inspiring legacy and shape HSC’s next great chapter of working toward the public good.”

Trent-Adams said she hopes to expand HSC’s research around health disparities, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, forensic identification and more.

Sunil Eappen

University of Vermont Health Network names CEO

Sunil “Sunny” Eappen has been selected as the new president and chief executive officer of the University of Vermont Health Network.

Eappen serves as chief medical officer and senior vice president, medical affairs for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He’s also an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School.

Eappen will succeed John R. Brumsted, who is retiring after leading the health system for more than 10 years.

His appointment will be effective November 28.

“The UVM Health Network is a model for how we can provide and preserve high-quality health care in our communities, while innovating and educating through academic medicine,” Eappen said in a statement.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to work alongside, learn from and support thousands of dedicated providers and staff across Vermont and Northern New York, and to deliver on the promise of the Network,” he said. “Together, we will address our challenges and work to provide expert, equitable, value-based health care for our patients and communities.”

Eappen has written numerous articles and is also a national speaker on topics such as optimizing operating room efficiency and change management.

Allie Stickney, chairwoman of the UVM Health Network Board of Trustees, said Eappen stood out in the search process as “an accomplished and inspirational leader.”

“His track record of building partnerships, commitment to health equity and belief in a value-based approach to health care will build upon the strong foundation Dr. Brumsted began a decade ago,” Stickney said in a statement. “We are incredibly excited and fortunate to have Dr. Eappen join us to lead this organization and its talented people into the next phase of its evolution.”

Bruce Moore

HCA Healthcare announces veteran leader is retiring

Bruce Moore, a longtime executive with HCA Healthcare, plans to retire at the end of the year after spending 40 years with the company.

Moore, HCA’s president of service line and operations integration, began working with HCA in 1982. The company said it is searching for Moore’s replacement.

He was credited with expanding many of HCA’s services, including a behavioral health services platform with more than 50 facilities, about 70 inpatient rehab facilities, and more than 30 comprehensive stroke programs.

Moore also helped develop one of the nation’s largest ambulatory surgery networks and the telemedicine program. He also led the acquisition of Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a national leader in cancer research and drug development, the system said in a news release.

Sam Hazen, HCA Healthcare’s chief executive officer, praised Moore for his accomplishments.

“Bruce has contributed significantly to HCA Healthcare’s growth and success throughout his 40 years with the company,” Hazen said in a statement. “His commitment to HCA Healthcare’s mission and culture has helped him be an effective leader and trusted advisor. We wish him well in this next chapter.”

Nick Hedges

Raintree Systems appoints CEO, two other leaders

Nick Hedges has been appointed CEO of Raintree Systems, based in Temecula, Calif.

Raintree provides electronic health records and revenue cycle management software for the therapy and rehab industry.

Hedges has spent 25 years in the technology industry. Most recently, he served as the CEO of MomentFeed, a marketing software company serving retail and restaurant enterprises. Previously, Hedges was CEO and president of Velocify, a software company he led for 10 years.

He said he’s excited to lead Raintree.

“Together, we are going to accelerate our record growth rates by significantly expanding our market presence and investing in our greatest strengths; our product and our people,” Hedges said in a statement.

Raintree also named Darian Hong, a seasoned financial strategist, as the company’s new chief financial officer. Hong has held several CFO positions at both large enterprise and growth-stage technology companies.

Rob Rust has been appointed as the firm’s new chief technology officer. Rust brings more than 20 years of experience modernizing technologies.

Lorraine Welty, co-founder and chief product officer at Raintree Systems, said the company is beginning “its next evolution.”

“Nick, Darian, and Rob will help us accelerate growth, and modernize our solution, while staying true to our core values of delivering superior software solutions and relationship-first customer service,” Welty said in a statement.