Montage Health announces next CEO, and more | MED MOVES

Michael McDermott, MD, has been named the next president and CEO of Montage Health in Monterey, California.

Michael McDermott, MD

He will begin serving in the new role in the spring of 2025. He succeeds Steven Packer, MD, who is retiring after leading the system for 25 years.

McDermott takes the post after serving as CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare in Virginia for a decade. He took over as CEO of Mary Washington, a two-hospital system, in 2015.

“Although it was a difficult decision to leave an organization that I’ve had the privilege to lead for the past 10 years, I am grateful for the opportunity to build upon Dr. Packer’s legacy and join Montage Health, a health system I’ve admired for years,” McDermott said in a statement.

He noted that he’s happy to be closer to his sons, who live in California.

Bill Warner, chairman of Montage Health’s board of trustees, said McDermott is the right choice to lead the system.

“Dr. Packer’s visionary leadership has created a solid foundation, and we are confident that Dr. McDermott will continue to build on that success as we strive to improve the health and well-being of our community,” Warner said in a statement.

Packer will continue leading the system until the spring, and said serving as Montage Health’s CEO “has been the honor of my lifetime.”

“As I continue to lead Montage Health through this transition, I am confident in the talented team we have in place and excited to see Dr. McDermott continue advancing our mission of delivering extraordinary care and inspiring the pursuit of optimal health,” Packer said in a statement.

Ryan Smith

Intermountain Health appoints chief digital and information officer

Ryan Smith has been named the next chief digital and information officer of Intermountain Health, and it’s something of a homecoming.

Smith held several leadership roles across the Intermountain system for nearly 20 years. After leaving Intermountain, he held executive roles with Health Catalyst and served as senior vice president of technology and chief information officer at Banner Health. Smith returned to Intermountain as chief information officer from 2020 to 2022, before joining Graphite Health as its chief operating officer.

Now, Smith is coming back to Intermountain, and he will begin his new role in early 2025.

“This opportunity is deeply meaningful to me,” Smith said in a statement. “I'm excited for the opportunity to make healthcare an easier, safer experience for patients, members, and caregivers alike.”

Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health, said Smith will help improve the experience for patients and caregivers.

“I’m confident that Ryan is the right leader to help Intermountain successfully navigate both opportunities and obstacles as a model health system in the complex world of healthcare that lies ahead,” Allen said in a statement.

Chamath Wijewardane

Mississippi Hospital Association names chief information officer

Chamath Wijewardane is the new chief information officer of the Mississippi Hospital Association.

Wijewardane has worked with the hospital association before, previously serving as director of IT solutions. Most recently, he served as the Mississippi Division of Medicaid’s Chief Information Officer.

“From improving efficiency and cooperation to reshaping the way patient data is managed, information technology plays a pivotal role facilitating the delivery of quality healthcare,” Wijewardane said in a statement. “MHA is committed to using IT to help move its efforts and healthcare in Mississippi to the next level, and I am excited to join the team.”

He has also held leadership roles at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation, St. Dominic Hospital, and OCH Regional Medical Center.

Richard Roberson, president and CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association, said he’s happy to have Wijewardane back.

“His deep understanding of healthcare IT, combined with his passion for improving patient outcomes through technology, will strengthen our efforts to support hospitals and healthcare providers across Mississippi,” Roberson said in a statement.

Sam Maxfield

Research Medical Center names chief financial officer

Sam Maxfield has been appointed chief financial officer of Research Medical Center in Kansas City.

The medical center is part of HCA Midwest Health. Maxfield has more than 12 years of experience in finance and accounting, primarily in healthcare.

Most recently, Maxfield served as CFO for Banner Boswell & Del Webb Medical Centers in Phoenix, Arizona, two acute care hospitals that are part of Banner Health.

Previously, Maxfield helped lead Banner's ambulatory division and managed a radiology practice for five years.

Maxfield said he is honored to take the post.

“I look forward to working with this dynamic organization and advancing its tradition of solid financial stewardship and delivering the gold standard of healthcare to patients,” he said in a statement. “I have a strong professional and personal commitment to community-based healthcare. I value the opportunity to become part of the collaborative team of employees and medical staff that is the foundation of one of the area’s most highly regarded hospitals.”

Kate Koplan

SCP Health appoints clinical quality officer

Kate Koplan, MD, has been appointed executive vice president and clinical quality officer of SCP Health.

Koplan most recently served as the chief quality officer and associate medical director at The Southeast Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser Permanente Georgia. She also has held leadership roles at Atrius Health and Harvard Vanguard in Boston, MA.

In her new role, Koplan will oversee clinical quality for all SCP Health clinical service lines, including emergency medicine, hospital medicine, and value-based programs.

“I’m thrilled to join the exceptional leadership team and committed clinicians and staff at SCP Health, where high-quality care is central to our mission,” Koplan said in a statement. “I look forward to building upon SCP Health’s well-built foundation of innovative, impactful services to strengthen hospital systems, enhance patient care, support clinicians in providing high-quality care, and promote healthier communities.”