UF Health hires first chief transformation officer, and more | MED MOVES

Taking on a newly created position, Jessica Thompson Melton has been named the first chief transformation officer of UF Health.

Jessica Thompson Melton

Melton will join UF Health on Oct. 14. She comes to the system after serving as vice president of strategic initiatives of Johns Hopkins Health System. She was credited with revamping business processes across the systems and improving clinical technologies.

Steve Motew, MD, president and system CEO of the UF Health clinical enterprise, said Melton will play an important role for the system.

“She will lead initiatives that support our strategic goals, drive innovation, and ensure our vision and values are deeply embedded in every facet of our operations,” Motew said in a statement.

UF Health said Melton will work to utilize cutting-edge technology to improve patient care and the system’s efficiency. She’s also being tasked with developing future leaders of UF Health.

Melton also served as president and chief operating officer of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. She served as interim president and chief operating officer of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. She also held a host of leadership positions in Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.

Cameron Mantor

OU Health names chief physician executive

Cameron Mantor, MD, has been named chief physician executive for OU Health in Oklahoma.

Mantor will also serve as president of OU Health Partners, the system’s physician practice. He has been serving in the roles on an interim basis since January 2024.

He will serve on OU Health’s executive team and report to Richard Lofgren, MD, president and CEO of OU Health.

Mantor has served with OU Health since 1995 and has held a host of leadership positions. He said he was drawn to the organization by the pediatric surgery training program at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.

“Following my training, the people I worked with, colleagues both medical and surgical, have made this the place I wanted to spend my career,” Mantor said in a statement. “Leading our physician group at this stage of my career is a tremendous honor. I look forward to how our physician group can further advance OU Health as the flagship academic referral center for Oklahoma.”

Mantor will continue to serve as the vice chair of the OU College of Medicine’s surgery department and a professor in the division of pediatric surgery.

Jim Andrews

Deborah Heart and Lung names new CEO

Jim Andrews has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, N.J.

Andrews began serving in his new role on Sept. 9. He previously served as senior vice president for heart & vascular and neuroscience service lines of RWJBarnabas Health.

Andrews said he is “honored and excited” about his new post.

“Deborah has a storied history of excellence in cardiovascular and pulmonary care, and I am committed to leading this incredible institution into its next chapter of growth and innovation,” Andrews said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the talented team at Deborah to continue delivering exceptional care to our patients and community.”

Barbara George Johnson, chair of Deborah’s board of trustees, calls Andrews “a visionary leader with a deep understanding of healthcare and a commitment to patient-centered care.”

“We are confident that under his leadership, Deborah will continue to build on its legacy of excellence,” she said in a statement.

Andrews succeeds Joseph Chirichella, who led Deborah since 2011 and has served the system for 46 years. Chirichella moves into the position of president emeritus.

Nazleen Bharmal

Stanford Health Care appoints first chief equity officer

Nazleen Bharmal, MD, has been named the first chief health equity officer of Stanford Health Care.

In this newly created position, Bharmal will be responsible for managing equity efforts in patient care, along with Stanford’s research and education missions. Bharmal will also serve as a clinical associate professor in Stanford School of Medicine’s division of primary care and population health.

Bharmal began her new role at Stanford this month.

She comes to Stanford after serving at the Cleveland Clinic and leading health equity and community health initiatives.

Bharmal also served as director of science and policy in the Office of the Surgeon General in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

She practices primary care internal medicine.