Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, has led the system as interim CEO since March, and president since September 2022.
The Boston Medical Center Health System (BMC Health System) board of trustees named the system's president as the organization's permanent CEO, this week.
Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, who was appointed as president in November 2022 and has served as interim CEO of the nonprofit, academic health system since March, will continue to lead the system's performance and strategic growth.
"Dr. Bell will continue to lead our longstanding mission of exceptional care for all patients and members, as well as advance our system strategy of growth, innovation, health equity, and performance excellence," Mark Nunnelly, the BMCHS Board Chair said in a press release. "He has a deep and unwavering commitment to our mission and is passionate about healthcare reform that eliminates systemic inequities. The board is confident that Dr. Bell is the right leader to ensure that BMCHS continues to be a thriving healthcare system that improves the health of our communities."
The system includes Boston Medical Center (BMC), a 514-bed nonprofit academic medical center; WellSense Health Plan which provides Medicare and Medicaid health insurance for members in Massachusetts and New Hampshire; Boston University Medical Group; Boston HealthNet, a network affiliation of the medical center; Boston Accountable Care Organization (ACO); and Clearway Health, a specialty pharmacy program.
Bell joined the system in 2012 to serve as COO of BMC, and has since led the hospital's strategic financial success, led the hospital's strategy and operations through the COVID-19 pandemic, was involved in the expansion of the system's WellSense Health Plan through the ACO program, and helped with the creation of Clearway Health.
Prior to joining BMC, Bell led the North American Payor and Provider Practice at McKinsey and Company where he advised national and international healthcare organizations on large scale transformation programs.
"I'm truly honored to serve as president and CEO of Boston Medical Center Health System and feel a great responsibility to the people who place their trust in us," Bell said in a statement. "I am fortunate to work alongside such a talented and committed group of people at all levels of our BMC Heath System as we seek to reshape how we deliver care, from cutting-edge clinical treatments and research in our hospital to unique partnerships in the community. The way we think about the health of our patients and members extends beyond traditional medicine to environmental sustainability and issues such as housing, food insecurity, and economic mobility, as we study the root causes of health inequities and empower all of our patients and communities to thrive."
“The way we think about the health of our patients and members extends beyond traditional medicine to environmental sustainability and issues such as housing, food insecurity, and economic mobility, as we study the root causes of health inequities and empower all of our patients and communities to thrive.”
— Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President and CEO, BMC Health
Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.