Wake Radiology names director of business development, plus more leadership moves

Wake Radiology UNC REX Healthcare has named Bonnie Little-Hildebrandt as its new director of business development—one of several recent radiology leadership announcements. 

She brings more than 20 years of healthcare industry experience to the Raleigh, North Carolina-based private practice. Most recently, Little-Hildebrandt worked as senior VP for global provider contracting and marketing at Aphora Health, a healthcare services and software company focused on access and price transparency. 

“As a physician-led organization, we are confident Bonnie’s extensive experience in healthcare development and her proven track record of building strategic partnerships will be invaluable to us,” Brent Townsend, MD, president and managing partner of Wake Radiology, said in an Oct. 11 announcement. “Her expertise will play a critical role in driving our growth and enhancing the care we provide to our patients across the Triangle,” a reference to the North Carolina metropolitan area that includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

In the newly created role, Little-Hildebrandt will identify and pursue growth opportunities for the organization. She also will support new physician growth, evaluate market data and identify trends to help determine the strategic direction of Wake Radiology. 

“Bonnie's background and track record for building lasting key relationships will support opportunities for better alignment with current and potential new partners (including providers, hospitals and insurance companies),” Chief Operating Officer Parul Galloway told Radiology Business. “Overall, her role will require a blend of analytical, strategic and interpersonal skills, as well as a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape.”

At Alphora Health, Little-Hildebrandt built and maintained provider relationships and evaluated and inked contracts with top hospital systems. The company provides navigators and travel plans to help patients connect with low-cost physicians. Before that, Little-Hildebrandt served as system executive director for network development and physician relations at UNC Health, playing a key role in fostering its doc network. 

Founded in 1953, Wake Radiology employs over 60 radiologists serving 14 locations. It also recently announced the hiring of eight new physicians. 

Flywheel names new CEO

Flywheel.io, a platform for image management and data analysis, has named Matthew A. Michela, MBA, as its next CEO. 

He replaces Hooman Hakami, who has served as interim chief executive since Flywheel’s last leader stepped down in May. Michela previously served as CEO of telemedicine platform Curve Health and before that chief of image-exchange network Life Image prior to its 2022 acquisition by Intelerad. 

Minneapolis-based Flywheel offers what it believes is the “leading” medical imaging platform for streamlining data management, automating research workflows and enabling AI development. 

"I am excited to join Flywheel as its new CEO," Michela said in an announcement. "Since medical imaging data represents more than 80% of all healthcare data, the urgency to address the complexities in securely managing and operationalizing this essential information at scale has never been greater,” he added later. 

After stepping down from the interim role, Hakami has joined the Flywheel board of directors.

Orlando Health imaging center leader

Orlando Health has named Craig Bowman, the manager of imaging services at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, as the new director of its imaging centers. 

He started his healthcare career in 2006, joining Health Central Hospital as a radiologic technologist, and was later promoted to supervisor of diagnostic imaging. Bowman led a team of 15 at Health Central before joining Dr. Phillips Hospital in 2011 where he has remained since. 

In that role, he has served as a manager and radiology supervisor, working with physicians and other team members to improve the patient experience. Bowman also has chaired the Corporate Imaging Council, participated in a lean six sigma project and helped the hospital to achieve “significant” cost savings, according to an announcement. 

Bowman will take on the new role beginning Feb. 1. Orlando Health operates a total of 13 imaging centers. 

UMass Chan endowed radiology chair

UMass Chan Medical School has named Professor Max P. Rosen, MD, as its endowed chair of radiology. 

He joined the Worcester, Massachusetts, organization in 2012 and helped to build a “vibrant, growing” department employing over 90 radiologists. The Department of Radiology now performs 900,000 studies per year, providing “comprehensive” diagnostic imaging and interventional services across the UMass Memorial Health System. 

The announcement was made after the school received a $5 million philanthropic gift from UMass Memorial Health and $2.5 million in matching funds from the University of Massachusetts Foundation. This allowed it to establish five new “UMass Memorial Health’ endowed chairs,” supporting accomplished senior clinicians who have dual appointments with the school and its hospital system. 

Rapid fire

A few more leadership appointments of note, in brief: 

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center Radiology has named Rochelle Andreotti, MD, as medical director of its Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. 
• Radiopaedia Founder Dr. Frank Gaillard is stepping down as editor-in-chief of the website, with Dr. Henry Knipe taking over the role.
• The Yale School of Medicine has appointed Cesia Gallegos, MD, as program director of its Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship and Emmanuel Akintoye, MD, as associate director of the program.
• MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center has named radiation oncologist Linda W. Chan, MD, as its inaugural Foundation Endowed Chair. 
• And finally, diagnostic imaging solutions provider Probo Medical has named Greg Kopulos, MBA, as its next CEO.