Radiology provider LucidHealth names associate CMO, plus new department chairs at Vanderbilt, Dartmouth
Private equity-backed provider LucidHealth has named Ryan Peirce, MD, as its new associate chief medical officer in Wisconsin, one of several recent leadership changes in radiology.
Previous practice president for affiliate Green Bay Radiology, Peirce will help to shape the clinical vision and strategic direction across four practices in the state. His duties will encompass health management, IT network and product development, and business strategy, LucidHealth announced Tuesday.
"As associate CMO, we are confident that Dr. Ryan Peirce will bring a wealth of expertise to our broader clinical leadership team," Mark Alfonso, MD, CMO of the Columbus, Ohio-based company, said June 4. "His dedication to advancing radiology services and patient care aligns seamlessly with his colleagues across Wisconsin.”
Practices under his purview will include GBR, Beloit Radiology, Madison Radiologists and Radiology Associates of the Fox Valley. LucidWisconsin serves over 70 hospitals and care sites across the Badger State, representing one of the largest imaging groups there. The appointment is one of several clinical leadership roles set to be filled in 2024, with LucidHealth also looking to address clinical technology, data and AI integration, clinical teleradiology services, and growth and radiologist experience.
LucidHealth bills itself as one of the “largest physician-owned, outsourced providers of radiology services in the country.” The company was founded in 2016 with funds from private equity firm Excellere Partners. It now comprises more than 300 radiologists nationwide, with affiliated groups also in Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Nevada.
Daniel Brown, MD, leads Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University Medical Center named Daniel Brown, MD, as chair of its Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences on May 14.
A professor at the Nashville institution, Brown has served as interim chair since summer 2023. He came to Vanderbilt by way of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, becoming the founding director of the Division of Interventional Oncology. Over the past decade, Brown has helped foster the use of image-guided clinical interventions for patients with solid tumors, Vanderbilt noted.
“As interim chair, Dr. Brown has proven to be an accomplished leader in the challenging climate in which our hospitals and clinics must operate. I am delighted that he will be assuming this vital position on a permanent basis,” Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, president and CEO of VUMC and dean of its school of medicine, said in an announcement.
Radiology is one of the medical center’s largest departments with over 140 faculty members, 50 trainees, and 500 employees. The division handles thousands of studies and procedures daily and is a national leader in research, Vanderbilt noted.
“I am honored at the opportunity to serve as the chair of radiology and radiological sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The last 10 months have been a tremendous learning experience,” Brown said in the same announcement.
David M. Naeger, MD, leads Dartmouth
Dartmouth Health on May 3 named David M. Naeger, MD, as the next chair of its Department of Radiology following a national search.
Naeger joins the institution from Denver Health, where he served as director of radiology since 2019. There he has overseen a staff of 160, charged with running the safety net healthcare system’s clinical research and educational programs.
At New Hampshire-based Dartmouth, Naeger will steer the department’s overall direction, operations and management. He’ll also lead faculty development and academic advancement while fostering a “culture of excellence and academic curiosity” for the department’s providers. He is slated to begin the job in August, replacing the retiring Jocelyn Chertoff, MD.
“Though I’m very sad to leave my Denver Health family, I’m drawn to the energy, expertise and enthusiasm of the entire Dartmouth Health radiology team,” Naeger said in an announcement. “The radiologists, trainees, technologists, nurses, administrators and support staff are all patient-focused, incredibly skilled and engaged; I’m honored to be joining the team.”
Rapid fire
A few more leadership announcements of note, in rapid fashion:
- Jim Rechtin, MBA, the former CEO of multispecialty radiology provider Envision Healthcare, will officially take over the top post at insurer Humana on July 1.
- AHRA announced its board of directors election results on May 23, with Lexington Medical Center’s Wes Harden serving as the 2024 president-elect and AdventHealth’s Laurie Hitzel named returning 2024 board director-at-large.
- Radiology vendor Azra AI on May 8 announced John Marshall as its new CEO.
- And finally, medical imaging data management and AI company Flywheel has appointed Hooman Hakami as its interim CEO, according to a May 24 announcement.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.