Photo by Dana Johnson
Two longtime Vanderbilt leaders took newly created roles atop the University's clinical enterprise.
Martin Sandler, M.B., Ch.B., chair of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, was named to the new role of associate vice chancellor for Hospital Affairs. Sandler now oversees all four Vanderbilt hospitals — Vanderbilt University Hospital, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital. He stepped down from his department chairmanship and into the new role on July 1.
C. Wright Pinson, M.D., M.B.A., associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs and chief medical officer, leads the Vanderbilt Medical Group and heads up quality improvement efforts across the entire Vanderbilt clinical enterprise.
While retaining those responsibilities, Pinson assumed a significantly expanded role, taking on oversight of The Vanderbilt Clinic and all off-campus clinical activities, including a growing regional network of physician practices, outpatient treatment centers, Cool Springs Surgery Center and McKendree Village, a retirement community affiliated with VUMC.
Those roles were created when Norman Urmy, who over the past 24 years led Vanderbilt University Hospital and its clinical enterprise, stepped down in June as vice president for Clinical Affairs at VUMC. He spent the summer with his family, then returned to Vanderbilt in October to work with Harry Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs, in a supporting staff role focusing on key strategic initiatives.
Jeremy Kaye, M.D., was appointed interim chair of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, following Sandler's move into his new role.
Kaye had been vice-chair of the department since 2000. He previously headed two different departments in New York while serving as director of the Department of Radiology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, which is part of the Cornell University complex, and also as chairman of Radiology for St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, which is affiliated with New York Medical College.
Kevin Churchwell, M.D., was named the interim chief executive officer of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. He succeeds Jim Shmerling, who has accepted a position as president and chief executive officer of The Children's Hospital of Denver, beginning January 2007.
Churchwell is currently chief of staff/associate medical director for Children's Hospital, a post he has held since 2005.
Health care organizational learning and leadership development expert Peter Giammalvo, Ph.D., was appointed to the newly created position of chief learning officer at VUMC.
Giammalvo was formerly vice president for leadership formation at Catholic Health East in Pennsylvania.
Dan Roden, M.D., was appointed assistant vice chancellor for Personalized Medicine at VUMC.
The newly created position will support one of the major emphases in the Medical Center's strategic plan to strengthen its research enterprise — personalized health and health care.
Michael Higgins, M.D., M.P.H., was appointed chair of the Department of Anesthesiology. A 1989 graduate of Vanderbilt's School of Medicine, Higgins has been interim chair of the department since June 2004.
John Zic, M.D., was named associate dean of Admissions for VUSM, succeeding Hal Helderman, M.D. Zic, a VUSM graduate and one of the school's first Canby Robinson Scholars, has served on the Admissions Committee since 2000.
Stephen Morrow, M.D., was named to direct the Trauma Program for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. The new position was created to expand on the trauma program's existing services, and will include the addition of several other positions in future.
Shari Barkin, M.D., joined the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt as chief of the Division of General Pediatrics. She previously served as an associate professor of Pediatrics and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University's School of Medicine, Brenner Children's Hospital.
Health care executive George DeLong joined VUMC as assistant hospital director. In his new role, DeLong is responsible for food service, patient transport, environmental services (adult hospital only), materials management and supply distribution, linen and the VUMC copy center and mail room.
Randy Farmer was named executive associate vice chancellor for Medical Center Development. He came to VUMC from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was associate vice chancellor and director of Medical Alumni and Development.
Terry Carter was named senior director of Development for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Carter has spent the past 30 years in the field, and most recently was vice president of Development for the Clarian Health/Indiana University/Riley Hospital/Academic Medical Center in Indianapolis.