by Doug Campbell
Former Vanderbilt cardiology leader Keith Churchwell, MD, has been appointed president of Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) in Connecticut.
Churchwell arrived at YNHH in 2015 from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as executive director and chief medical officer of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute (VHVI).
At Yale, he most recently served as chief operating officer and executive vice president for YNHH, after spending five years as the senior vice president charged with leadership of the heart and vascular service line.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the next president of one of the nation’s leading, nationally-ranked teaching hospitals,” said Churchwell. “I am extremely enthusiastic about the future and the role YNHH can play in transforming the delivery of health care.”
Churchwell received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his postgraduate training in cardiovascular disease and nuclear cardiology at Emory School of Medicine.
He joined Vanderbilt’s faculty in 1999 and held an array of Medical Center leadership roles, most notably helping to build VHVI into the region’s most preferred provider of cardiology, cardiac surgery and vascular surgery services, as well as one of the nation’s leading programs in terms of the depth and breadth of its comprehensive approach to patient care, research and training.
Churchwell currently serves on the national board of directors of the American Heart Association. He is active in the local community, serving as president of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and he is also known for his “Walk with a Doc” sessions on Saturday mornings in Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods of New Haven.
“The Churchwell family gathered by ZOOM last week to hear of Keith’s new role and responsibilities,” said André Churchwell, MD, Levi Watkins, Jr., MD Professor, Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Vanderbilt University.
“We give our late parents much of the praise for whatever success has befallen us. It is also important to acknowledge, that the Nashville public school system and Vanderbilt have played key roles in our career achievements, which include Kevin, Keith’s twin, a 1987 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine graduate and former Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt CEO, who currently serves as president of Boston Children’s Hospital.”