American College of Radiology selects new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute chief

The American College of Radiology has selected Elizabeth Rula, PhD, as the new executive director of its Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, officials announced Monday.

She’ll be tasked with overseeing the organization’s “extensive” research portfolio focused in the areas of utilization, health policy, access, quality and alternative payment models. Rula previously served as executive director of health and wellness firm Tivity Health and has authored “dozens” of peer-reviewed papers, ACR noted in an announcement.

“Dr. Rula is a strategic leader with proven success developing and executing a broad program of research, publications and thought leadership,” CEO William Thorwarth Jr. said in a statement.  “Her work will support strategic initiatives and innovation, build market credibility, inform health policy and establish strong, evidence-based value propositions for radiology.”

She will assume the role on Aug. 1, replacing Danny Hughes, PhD, who has led the institute since its inception in 2012. Under the role, Rula will also manage relationships with contracted research sites at Georgia Tech, Emory University and elsewhere.

“I look forward to advancing the Neiman Institute’s important work to provide credible, objective and reproducible healthcare economics research to lawmakers, regulators and payers to help them make informed policy decisions,” Rula said in the announcement.

Marty Stempniak

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. 

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