Shane Rowan, left, celebrates with his classmates after matching at the University of Colorado in Internal Medicine. Match Day, held on Thursday, is an annual event in which medical students learn their residency locations simultaneously across the country. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Urmy to lead VUH…again
Mark Penkhus, who joined Vanderbilt in August 1999 as executive director and CEO of Vanderbilt University Hospital, has accepted a position as vice president of university administration at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and will leave Vanderbilt effective April 5.
Norman Urmy, executive vice president for Clinical Affairs, has assumed duties as hospital executive director and CEO.
The general announcement of Penkhus’ departure came Tuesday in separate e-mails sent to VUMC leadership by Penkhus and by Vice Chancellor Dr. Harry R. Jacobson.
“My association with Vanderbilt and its remarkable Medical Center has been one of the most outstanding opportunities of my career,” Penkhus wrote. “Working with so many outstanding professionals has been extremely rewarding and an experience that will be with me always.”
After congratulating Penkhus on his new position, Jacobson wrote, “Mark Penkhus has been an important and valued member of the Medical Center’s leadership for two and a half years, and we will miss him.”
Urmy came to Vanderbilt in 1982 as executive director of the hospital and clinic, and in 1998 he assumed the newly created position of executive vice president for Clinical Affairs, which included oversight of VUH, Vanderbilt Health Services, the office of Space and Facilities Planning, and hospital network development and strategic planning. Jacobson and Urmy will determine which of these current duties will be reassigned as Urmy works more closely with VUH.
This is a time of growing demand for VUH services and major new programming initiatives, including development of the new Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, scheduled to open in October 2003. In addition to new programming development and access improvement, Urmy said his immediate concerns include wrapping up planning and development of next year’s budget.