MED MOVES: UNC Health hires new health equity director, and more

Nicole Mushonga has joined UNC Health as its system executive director for health equity.

Nicole Mushonga

Mushonga will lead UNC Health’s equity efforts across the system. She will lead efforts in identifying barriers preventing access to care and developing inclusive practices that create a better environment for patients.

“I am excited to join an organization such as UNC Health whose mission is to improve the health and well-being for all North Carolinians and who prioritizes health equity,” Mushonga said in a statement. “This is an amazing opportunity to impact the lives of so many of our residents and I am honored to lead this work.”

Mushonga comes to UNC Health from Wake County Health & Human Services, where she led their public health division as the Interim Medical Director of Public Health & Epidemiology Director. Under her leadership, the division was recognized by the White House and National Association of County and City Health Officials for their health equity programs addressing COVID-19.

Previously, Mushonga was an epidemiologist for the Kern County Public Health Services Department in Bakersfield, Calif.

Audrea Caesar, UNC Health’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said in a statement that Mushoga “brings a unique skillset to our organization with her previous community health work, and her experience as an epidemiologist. She will be a great partner to the leaders of the healthcare system and will help us chart our course to reducing health inequities.”

Shannon Bradley

Keck Medicine of USC hires first diversity officer

Shannon Bradley has been named the first chief diversity and inclusion officer of Keck Medicine of USC.

She takes the new post on Sept. 26. Bradley will lead strategies to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

Ekta Vyas, chief human resources officer for Keck Medicine, said Bradley will become a key member of the system’s leadership team.

"Bradley brings years of healthcare experience and a track record of success implementing diversity, equity and inclusion strategies to this inaugural position,” Vyas said in a statement. “Creating a diverse and inclusive health system that fosters a culture of belonging is a top priority for Keck Medicine and allows us to address areas of opportunity and growth.”

Bradley will work closely with Christopher Manning, USC’s chief inclusion and diversity officer, to collaborate on diversity strategies and to prevent and address potential situations of bias.

“I look forward to leveraging Keck Medicine diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to provide the best outcomes for our patients and an inclusive workplace for all employees,” Bradley said in a statement. “Keck Medicine has the commitment and resources to become not only a regional, but a national leader in this area.”

Bradley shared that she hasn’t always had access to healthcare.

“I understand firsthand what it means to have an inequitable health care experience, which drives me to advocate even harder for patients who have been underserved or undervalued,” Bradley said.

Tina Vatanka Murphy

GHX president stepping into new role, successor named

Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) is getting new leadership in the new year.

Bruce Johnson, president and CEO of GHX, plans to move into a role as executive chairman of the board beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The GHX Board chose Tina Vatanka Murphy, division president, value based care, to be appointed as the company’s next president and CEO.

Based in Louisville, Colo., GHX works with healthcare companies to automate key business processes and use data more effectively.

“Serving as president and CEO of GHX for the last 15 years has been the highlight of my career and I am incredibly grateful to have worked alongside a tremendous team of purpose-driven individuals,” Johnson said in a statement. “Together, we have pioneered healthcare’s largest cloud-based supply chain network and built a community of tens of thousands of healthcare organizations across the globe.”.

Johnson described Vatanka Murphy as “a focused and authentic leader with a passion for advancing healthcare’s value-based future.”

“Her ability to remain clear-headed and focused in the face of adversity helped steer GHX, and our customers, through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to make a difference in the healthcare community at large,” he said.

Vatanka Murphy said she’s honored to become GHX’s next leader. She has been with the company for 23 years.

“While our industry faces profoundly difficult challenges ahead, the opportunity for healthcare to become stronger, more resilient and patient-centered has never been greater. I am inspired by the possibilities, and I am committed to championing the work of this great community as it advances toward a value-based future,” she said in a statement.

Keith Bricking

Premier Health names first chief clinical officer

Keith Bricking has been selected as Premier Health’s first chief clinical officer.

In the newly created position, Bricking will help coordinate care across the southwest Ohio health system’s provider workforce. He takes the new post October 3.

Since January 2019, Bricking has served as president of Atrium Medical Center, becoming the first physician to lead a Premier Health hospital, the system said.

“I’m eager to collaborate with others across our health system and Ohio to build further upon Premier Health’s record of clinical excellence,” Bricking said in a statement.

“My top priority will be strengthening coordination of care throughout Premier Health, and with academic partners and others in the communities we serve,” he said. “To advance that goal, I’m looking forward to putting to work my academic medical program experiences as a researcher, educator, and practicing physician.”

Premier Health will name a new president at Atrium Medical Center at a future date. The system operates six hospitals and a host of care sites in southwest Ohio.

Justin Davison

Missouri health system selects new CEO

Justin Davison has been named the new president and chief executive officer of the Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Davison joined Saint Francis Healthcare System in November 2019 as chief financial officer. In February 2022, Davison moved to the role of interim president and chief financial officer.

“The Board looks forward to working with Justin as our president and CEO,” Steven K. Dirnberger, board chairman for the Saint Francis Healthcare System, said in a statement. “He has done an outstanding job as the chief financial officer. We strongly believe he is the right person to guide and move us forward.”

Davison previously served as vice president of finance at Mercy Health in Springfield, Missouri. He has more than 18 years in executive leadership experience in hospitals and healthcare systems.

Saint Francis Healthcare System has served southeast Missourifor nearly 150 years. It’s the largest healthcare system between Memphis and St. Louis.

Brenda Holley

Lovelace Women’s Hospital gets chief nursing officer

Brenda Holley has been named the new chief nursing officer of Lovelace Women’s Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lovelace Health System said Holley will begin her new role on Oct. 3, 2022.

Holley brings more than 24 years of healthcare experience to the post. She possesses a clinical background in pulmonary and critical care nursing.

For the past three years, Holley has served as chief nursing officer of Lovelace Westside Hospital and she previously served as assistant CNO.

During her tenure at Lovelace Westside Hospital, she expanded outpatient therapy with new services and doubled the capacity in the outpatient sleep center, Lovelace said in a news release.

She also developed new services for inpatient and outpatient radiology and implemented tele-critical care support as a pilot for Ardent, improving efficiencies in the operating room.

Holley earned her bachelor of science in nursing at the University of New Mexico, her master of science in nursing from New Mexico State University, and also completed her doctorate in nursing at University of New Mexico.