The Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic recently named Jaroslaw Maciejewski, MD, as chairman of the newly created Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research. The department will focus on the study of molecular and biochemical mechanisms leading to cancer with the goal of directly improving diagnosis and treatment for cancers and leukemia as well as other related disorders. Maciejewski, a staff physician at Taussig for eight years, is respected internationally as an authority on myelodysplastic syndrome—failure of bone marrow—pre-leukemic states and molecular prognostication.
David R. Smith, MD, medical director for care management at not-for-profit Aurora Health Care, has been elected a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine, a national professional society for physicians committed to disease prevention and health promotion. Smith is one of 19 fellows selected by the American College of Preventive Medicine in 2008. Fellows are chosen based on three primary categories: contributions to the field of preventive medicine; board certification by an American Board of Medicine board in any medical specialty, with an emphasis on preventive medicine; and service to the American College of Preventive Medicine.
The board of directors at Mercy Health Ministry has named Lynn Britton president and CEO of Mercy Health System, which operates 19 acute-care hospitals in seven states. Britton has served since 2004 as senior vice president with responsibility for Mercy' information services and supply chain divisions, as well as oversight of Mercy's healthcare services in Arkansas. Britton joined the health system in 1992 as director of materials management at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City. In 1999, he moved to St. John's Mercy Health Care in St. Louis as executive director of materials and resource management. Britton transferred the following year to Mercy's corporate office as vice president for resource optimization. Britton succeeds John Sullivan, who served as president and CEO since 2007.
The Florida Health Care Association, the state trade association for Florida's nursing homes, has named J. Emmett Reed as its new executive director and CEO. Reed previously served as the CEO of the Florida Home Builders Association for 11 years. Reed replaces William J. Phelan, who is retiring from FHCA after 28 years of service.
When Thomas A. Daschle, embroiled in controversy over failing to pay more than $100,000 in back taxes, stepped down as director of the White House Office on Health Reform and withdrew his nomination to be secretary of health and human services, it left a hole in President Obama's leadership team. The vacancy is one that healthcare advocates say has stalled what they hoped would be speedy action on high-priority measures. Administration advisers still are not talking publicly about who might replace Daschle or when a nomination might be made.
Independence, MO-based Centerpoint Medical Center has settled some disputes with the Nurses United union, a move that could hasten the effort some nurses have taken to oust the bargaining unit. Early in February, Centerpoint posted notices throughout the hospital that it will not prohibit employees from discussing union activities or distributing union literature at nurses' stations. The Independence hospital also said it will not fail to bargain with Nurses United on weekend-duty issues involving some nurses. About 370 Centerpoint nurses are represented by Nurses United Local 5126, and voted to join the bargaining group in November 2007. However, negotiations have failed to result in an initial contract.