MGMA Names Turney CEO

Medical Group Management Association and its credentialing and standard-setting body American College of Medical Practice Executives on Monday said it has named a Wisconsin primary care physician as its new president/CEO.

Susan Turney, MD, an internist, will take over in early October, succeeding William F. Jessee, MD, who retires in September after 12 years at the associations. Turney, a fellow in ACMPE, was picked by the boards of directors after a year-long national search.

She will oversee the strategy and operations of MGMA, ACMPE, and their affiliated organizations. With 22,500 members, MGMA is the largest national professional association representing medical practice managers and executives. 

Turney has been CEO and executive vice president of the Wisconsin Medical Society since 2004. She founded and chaired the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network to promote patient-centered healthcare, and advance the use of information technology to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. She also co-founded the Wisconsin Health Information Organization. Along with her clinical practice, Turney was medical director for patient financial services at Marshfield (WI) Clinic.

Turney was the 2005-06 MGMA board chair and has served in other board positions. She has served on the National Quality Forum, and fulfilled many other appointments from the Wisconsin governor and the secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services.

She holds a medical degree and a master's of science degree in administrative medicine from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She served her internal medicine residency at Marshfield Clinic/St. Joseph's Hospital.