North Carolina Healthcare Association names new CEO, and more | MED MOVES

Josh Dobson is the new president and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Healthcare Association.

Josh Dobson

Dobson took the post Nov. 12. He previously served as North Carolina Labor Commissioner and resigned that office to lead the healthcare association.

The organization represents more than 130 hospital systems. He is the fifth CEO in the NCHA’s history, which covers more than a century.

“I am deeply passionate about healthcare issues and health policy,” Dobson said in a statement.

“Hospitals are essential to the well-being and vibrancy of our communities – not just for care, but as economic anchors,” he said. “It is crucial that we have policies in place to ensure their financial sustainability, while continuing to deliver high-quality, high-value care. I am honored to lead this effort.”

Chris Peek, president and chief executive officer of CaroMont Health and the NCHA’s board chair, said Dobson has shown “lifelong dedication to creating healthy and safe North Carolina communities through effective public policy and collaborative partnerships.”

“He is a proven collaborator who can bring people together to build the best solutions for ensuring North Carolina remains a top state for employers and residents to access high-quality healthcare close to where they live and work,” Peek said in a statement.

Rick Talento

Inova appoints chief financial officer

After serving for months in an interim capacity, Rick Talento has been named the chief financial officer of the Inova Health System in Virginia.

Talento has 35 years of experience, including 25 years in the healthcare industry. He previously worked for Inova for a decade, beginning in the 1990s. He later served as a hospital chief financial officer at Ascension Health.

He rejoined Inova in 2013 and has held leadership positions across the system, including roles as vice president of finance for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, Inova Alexandria Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital.

“This is an exciting time to be part of an organization that is deeply committed to excellence in patient care, innovation, and community impact,” Talento said in a statement. “Having worked closely with Inova’s financial operations over the years, I look forward to building on that foundation and collaborating with our talented team to ensure Inova continues to deliver on its mission while achieving financial strength and sustainability.”

J. Stephen Jones, MD, president and CEO of Inova, brings "a proven track record of strategic financial leadership."

"His long-standing familiarity with our organization, combined with his expertise, will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our financial stewardship and advance our mission," Jones said in a statement.

Rachel Thompson, MD

Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego names leader of cerebral palsy center

Rachel Thompson, MD, as a co-director of the Southern Family Center for Cerebral Palsy at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.

Thompson will also serve as associate clinical professor in the department of orthopaedic surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

She joins Rady Children’s from UCLA, where she served as Director of the Center for Cerebral Palsy. Thompson also served as residency program director in the department of orthopaedic surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine.

“Rady Children’s is committed to advancing the care of children with cerebral palsy, and I am honored to join the team,” Thompson said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside an incredible group of specialists, advancing research, and helping improve the lives of children and their families through cutting-edge care and treatment.”

Thompson will work alongside Hank Chambers, MD, the co-director of the Southern Family Center. Chambers praised Thompson’s credentials.

“Her extensive experience and dedication to improving outcomes for patients with cerebral palsy, particularly through her research on muscular pathology positions her as a true innovator in the field,” he said in a statement.

Craig Castro

Leader of Community Health System in Fresno plans to retire

Craig Castro, the president and CEO of Community Health System in Fresno, California, is planning to retire.

Castro has been leading the organization for nearly five years and has spent nearly four decades in the healthcare industry. He told the system’s board that he intends to retire early next year.

He took over as CEO just before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Roger Sturdevant, chairman of the system’s board of trustees, hailed his leadership during the pandemic.

In a post on the system’s website, Sturdevant wrote, “Under Craig’s leadership we launched Community Provider Network, which includes a medical foundation that’s grown to nearly 500 providers strong. In addition, Craig has strengthened our partnerships and investments in medical education that cultivate our future doctors and nurses.”

Castro also oversaw the expansion of Clovis Community Medical Center, which tripled the hospital’s inpatient capacity, and expanded the system’s cancer program.