Radiology provider MedQuest Associates on Wednesday announced the appointment of interventional specialist Aalpen Patel, MD, MBA, as its new chief clinical and innovation officer.
Patel first joined the Alpharetta, Georgia-based imaging center operator in March, vacating his post as a practicing physician with Geisinger Health System. In the newly created role, he’ll oversee all functions related to clinical practices and innovation in product development.
“Aalpen is a consummate visionary who has deep patient-centric medical experience, and we’re thrilled to have him on the team,” CEO Jason Howard, whom Patel will report to as part of MedQuest’s Executive Leadership Council, said in an April 10 announcement. “Aalpen’s many qualifications, particularly his leadership in the use of cutting-edge technology to advance healthcare outcomes, will play a critical role in our ability to meet the growing need for imaging across the country,” he added.
Patel was with Geisinger since 2011, according to his LinkedIn profile. In addition to practicing medicine, he held several leadership roles at the 12-hospital, Danville, Pennsylvania-based organization. Those included medical director for artificial intelligence, vice chair of informatics, Department of Radiology chair, and professor at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He’s also a distinguished educator and researcher, with expertise in mathematical and engineering modeling of biological systems and the application of 3D printing in medicine.
“I’m humbled to align with an organization that shares my passions,” Patel said in the announcement. “We’re both committed to exceptional patient care and believe that when technology is more deeply understood and integrated into our medical system, the impacts will be profound. Advances like AI and machine learning will help drive efficiency, increase access to care, boost accuracy, reduce burnout risk, and help mitigate challenges presented by a skilled labor shortage. We’ve only started to tap the possibilities.”
Founded in 1996, MedQuest labels itself as the leading outpatient imaging partner in the U.S., operating a network of 45 centers. The company also recently announced a three-year collaborative agreement with GE HealthCare as it aims to deploy various AI-enabled solutions from the imaging manufacturer.
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.