Sparrow Health System CEO plans to step down, and more | MED MOVES

James Dover, CEO of Sparrow Health System, has announced his plans to step down.

James Dover (Sparrow Health)

University of Michigan Health completed the acquisition of Sparrow Health earlier this year. Dover has said the time is right for him to step away now that the system is in a stable place. He plans to leave the organization Sept. 15.

“Working with this team of world-class caregivers, physicians and leadership is one of the proudest moments of my career,” Dover said in a statement “I am thrilled for its future as a part of University of Michigan Health.”

After a long career in healthcare leadership, Dover joined Sparrow in June 2019.

John Pirich, chairman of Sparrow Health’s board, saluted Dover’s leadership of the organization.

“Jim led the team through the pandemic, one of the most challenging times in our history, and received national recognition for innovative care,” Pirich said in a statement. “Throughout his tenure, Jim’s passion around quality was one of the reasons Sparrow has achieved among the highest percentiles in the country on key patient care indicators.”

“He ensured not only that the system provided the highest quality care to the Lansing community through the crisis, but that it will continue to provide that care for years to come through our new partnership with the University of Michigan Health. We are grateful for his service,” Pirich added.

Krista Curell (UChicago Medicine)

UChicago Medicine appoints new COO

Krista Curell has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Chicago Health System.

A nurse and an attorney, Curell will guide day-to-day operations across the UChicago Medicine health system and focus on fully integrating operations at the care sites.

She has been working as the system’s chief transformation and integration officer since March 2021, and more recently took on the additional responsibilities of chief administration officer.

Curell has worked at the University of Chicago Medical Center since 2001. She has also led the enterprise's emergency operations division. She has served as incident commander of the hospital incident command structure over the past 10 years.

Madeline Watts (McLaren Health Care)

McLaren Health Care names director of government affairs

Madeline Watts has been named director of McLaren Health Care’s office of government and regulatory affairs.

Watts succeeds Allisyn Mattice-Eskau, who took a corporate attorney position within McLaren, a system based in Michigan. McLaren operates 13 hospitals.

In her new role, Wals will support McLaren’s government and public policy strategies through interaction with Michigan lawmakers.

Watts’ government experiences began in 2016 as a legislative aide and director with the Michigan House of Representatives. She moved to the Michigan Senate in 2019 as a policy advisor.

“With her knowledge of health care policy and experience and understanding of the legislative process, Madeline will be a terrific proponent for McLaren to further progress that goal,” Deidra Wilson, McLaren ‘s senior vice president of government relations and public policy, said in a statement.

Julian Yang (HCA Midwest)

Research Medical Center hires chief medical officer

Julian Yang has been named the chief medical officer of Research Medical Center in Kansas City.

Research Medical Center is part of HCA Midwest Health, a division of HCA Healthcare.

For the last four years, Yang has served as CMO at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, a tertiary care hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Prior to that role, Yang served as medical director for the neurosciences clinical service unit at Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina. He also served as director of tele-neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Medical School in Dallas.

“It is a privilege to join the passionate and talented team that comprises the Research Medical Center family,” Yang said in a statement. “I look forward to ensuring this outstanding hospital furthers its nearly 138-year-old mission of delivering superior and compassionate care to the deserving communities, individuals and families we serve.”

Research Medical Center CEO Paul Hancock said in a statement that Yang “has a wealth of diverse experience and has demonstrated his dedication to high-quality patient care.”

“Throughout his career, Dr. Yang’s steady, humble leadership, collaborative nature and superb clinical skills have set a high standard for providing care resulting in better health outcomes for patients,” Hancock said.