Penn Medicine announces first director for LGBTQ+ Health, and more | MED MOVES

Kevin Kline (Photo: Penn Medicine)

Kevin Kline has been named the Penn Medicine’s inaugural medical director of LGBTQ+ health.

Kline is an assistant professor of family medicine and community health in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He will work with Penn Medicine’s Program for LGBTQ+ Health to develop guidelines to improve care for LGBTQ+ patients. He also will be working to make it easier for patients to get referrals to specialists with experience in the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition, Kline will be helping to enhance LGBTQ+ affirming practices at Penn. He also will be working guidelines for clinicians that can be used beyond Penn Medicine.

“Moving forward, one of our priorities is to identify areas across LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming care where the development of standardized care guidelines can increase provider knowledge and cultural humility, improve the overall quality and efficiency of care, and serve as a model for providers across the medical landscape – not just here at Penn,” Kline said in a statement.

Many doctors haven’t been trained in the specific needs of LGBTQ+ patients.

“There’s much that can be done to ensure competency levels are maximized across specialties, and not just siloed into areas of care directly related to sexual orientation and gender identity,” Kline said.

Judd Flesch, co-director of the Penn Medicine Program for LGBTQ+ Health, praised Kline’s commitment to serving LGBTQ+ patients.

“His efforts to prioritize care for the LGBTQ+ community are critical to Penn Medicine’s work in advancing health equity for all patients,” Flesch said.

• Read more: Healthgrades, OutCare Health team to help LGBTQ+ patients find providers

Michael Pencina (Photo: Duke Health)

Duke Health appoints first chief data scientist

Michael Pencina, a professor in Duke University’s medical school and director of Duke AI Health, now has a new role.

Pencina has been named the inaugural chief data scientist at Duke Health.

The system said in a news release that Pencina will work with leaders in Duke University School of Medicine and Duke University Health System to build on its partnerships with Microsoft and nference.

In a joint statement, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean Mary E. Klotman and Duke University Health System CEO Craig Albanese announced Pencina’s appointment.

“In the current era of rapid expansion of AI and data science, we created this new role in recognition of the need for a well-articulated strategy for Duke Health that spans and connects both our academic and our clinical missions,” Klotman and Albanese said in their statement. “Dr. Pencina will facilitate a strategic planning process to best align our priorities and resources and to build upon Duke's national leadership in trustworthy AI.”

Pencina is a well-known authority in the evaluation of AI tools and algorithms for health expert panels, the system said.

As vice dean for data science in the medical school, Pencina is responsible for developing quantitative science strategies as they relate to education and clinical science. Previously, he served as director of biostatistics at the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Frederick M. Hargett (Photo: UPMC)

UPMC names new chief financial officer

Frederick M. Hargett has been named UPMC’s next executive vice president and chief financial officer.

He begins in the role starting October 1. Earlier this year, Edward Karlovich announced his retirement as CFO.

Hargett comes to UPMC from Novant Health, Inc., where he has served as executive vice president and CFO of the North Carolina-based system for 15 years. During his time at Novant, the system grew from $1.5 billion in revenue to $8 billion.

Before becoming Novant’s CFO, Hargett spent five years as a financial planner and analyst, and executive vice president of finance.

Leslie Davis, president and CEO of UPMC, hailed Hargett’s experience.

“I am pleased that our team has recruited such an outstanding fiscal expert and leader with tremendous experience steering long-term diversified strategic growth while stewarding core financial functions of daily operations,” Davis said in a statement.

Before working at Novant, Hargett spent more than seven years at Ernst & Young as a growth strategy advisor to health systems.

HCA Midwest Health names community engagement leader

Allie Krass has taken the role of associate vice president of community engagement at HCA Midwest Health, based in Kansas City.

Krass will work to build relationships with community organizations, with a focus on partnerships to improve health equity. She will also coordinate Healthier Tomorrow Fund grant opportunities through the HCA Healthcare Foundation.

Additionally, Krass will help advance charitable giving and volunteering efforts.

“I look forward to developing and implementing community engagement strategies and collaborating with key community organizations to tell important stories, fulfill community needs and engage HCA Midwest Health colleagues,” Krass said in a statement. “The Kansas City region is dynamic and filled with opportunities for meaningful, actionable relationships that will ultimately benefit the community in many positive ways.”

Before joining HCA Midwest Health, Krass managed Honeywell FM&T’s community relations efforts in Kansas City and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Keith Zimmerman, president and CEO of HCA Midwest Health, said he was happy to welcome Krass to the organization.

“She brings strong experience in the development of strategic alliances throughout the community to help improve its well-being,” Zimmerman said in a statement.