August 6, 2015

Rothman named to lead population health research efforts

Russell Rothman, M.D., MPP, professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Health Policy, chief of the Section of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Health Services Research, has been named assistant vice chancellor for Population Health Research.

Russell Rothman, M.D., MPP, professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Health Policy, chief of the Section of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Health Services Research, has been named assistant vice chancellor for Population Health Research.

Russell Rothman, M.D., MPP

In the new position, Rothman, who also directs the PCORI-funded Mid-South Clinical Data Research Network (CDRN), will work to advance population health research across Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN).

Rothman will develop and lead Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s research efforts and portfolio in population health research, working closely with research and clinical leadership from across VHAN in these efforts. This will include expanding research and evaluation efforts of clinical operations to enhance the delivery of high-value health care. It will also include the opportunity to advance the science of population heath.

“Vanderbilt is a national leader in the fields of health services research, informatics and health care quality. We are confident that Dr. Rothman will build on these pillars to also make Vanderbilt a national leader in the delivery and science of population health,” said Robert Dittus, M.D., MPH, associate vice chancellor for Public Health and Health Care, senior associate dean for Population Health Sciences and the Albert and Bernard Werthan Professor of Medicine.

Rothman said since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act there is more emphasis on value-based health care.

“This is a revolutionary moment in health care. It’s transforming very rapidly, and we are learning how we can better take care of individuals and populations. But with all the changes in how we provide care, there’s very limited evidence as to what is the best way to provide that care. Vanderbilt has the opportunity to expand its role as a national leader,” Rothman said.

Some of the areas where Rothman plans to expand research include: transitions of care; expansions of patient-centered medical home and chronic disease management activities; development of novel informatics approaches to improve population level management; and testing of novel payment models that use pay-for-performance, bundled payments and other approaches to improve care at the population level.