Presbyterian Healthcare Services selects new CEO, and more | MED MOVES

Rishi Sikka, MD, has been named the next CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

Rishi Sikka, MD

He will begin leading New Mexico’s largest health system on Oct. 21. Presbyterian operates nine hospitals, a health plan, and a medical group.

Sikka will succeed Dale Maxwell, who is retiring after 23 years with Presbyterian.

He previously served as president of Village Medical, a primary care provider. He formerly served as president of system enterprises for Sutter Health in California.

Sikka was appointed to Presbyterian’s board of directors in 2016.

“It is an honor to join Presbyterian at this pivotal time in healthcare,” Sikka said in a statement.

“I’m deeply inspired by Presbyterian’s purpose - to ensure every New Mexican can achieve their best health - and am fully committed to advancing that mission alongside an incredible team dedicated to providing compassionate, quality care for our communities,” he said. “Together, we will navigate the evolving healthcare landscape, innovate, and strive to deliver on our purpose in new ways for every patient and member we serve.”

Norm Becker, chair of Presbyterian’s board, said he is “thrilled” that Sikka will be leading the health system.

“Dr. Sikka is a compassionate, innovative physician executive with deep knowledge of complex systems and more than 20 years of leadership experience across the healthcare industry,” Becker said in a statement.

M. Madan Babu

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital names first chief data scientist

M. Madan Babu has been named the inaugural chief data scientist of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Babu is taking charge of St. Jude’s newly created office of data science, which will have a budget of $195 million and 115 positions.

“St. Jude is a unique place and I am honored to lead this initiative,” Babu said in a statement. “With our intellectual ecosystem of talented clinical, experimental and data scientists united under the same mission, there’s no better place than St. Jude to build a data science enterprise of this magnitude.”

Babu joined St. Jude in 2020. He previously spent 14 years as a program leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England.

James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude, praised the experience of Babu and touted the importance of the new office .

“Under the leadership of Dr. Babu, a globally recognized expert in this field, our Office of Data Science will strengthen data-sharing between the lab and the clinic, accelerating our progress in finding cures and developing treatments for children with catastrophic diseases,” Downing said in a statement.

John Moynihan, MD

Inova Health System names leader of clinical enterprise

John Moynihan, MD, has been named president and chief of clinical enterprise of the Inova Health System in Virginia.

Moynihan will oversee all of Inova’s healthcare sites and clinical service lines. He’ll also be responsible for the system’s clinical transformation strategy. He has been serving in an acting capacity since March 2024.

He spent many as a community physician with the organization and has held a number of leadership roles.

“I am honored to step into this role and continue my work as an advocate for physicians,” Moynihan said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with Inova’s physician leaders and strengthening relationships with our medical community. Together, we will drive innovation, foster collaboration, and ultimately elevate the quality of care we provide to our patients.”

Stephen Jones, MD, president and CEO of Inova, lauded Moynihan’s experience with the system.

“John has been a trusted leader and long-time partner in our mission to provide world-class healthcare,” Jones said in a statement.

Julie Petersen

Kittitas Valley Healthcare CEO announces plans to retire

Julie Petersen, who has served as CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare in Washington for several years, has announced her plans to retire.

Petersen plans to step down at the end of 2024. She began serving as interim CEO in June 2016 and took the position permanently beginning in March 2017.

Under Petersen’s leadership, the system has added a 24-hour outpatient retail pharmacy, in-patient dialysis and digital mammography services. Kittitas also integrated behavioral health services in the system’s primary care clinics, along with expanded cardiology, neurology and wound care.

Kittitas Valley says it’s negotiating with Jason Adler, the system’s chief financial officer, to be the next CEO of the organization.

A public hospital district, Kittitas serves patients in a rural area in central Washington state.