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A Renown Anesthesiologist's Unique Journey
Dr. Nariman Rahimzadeh’s career path has been anything but typical. From humble beginnings as a shuttle bus driver for Renown Regional Medical Center, then named Washoe Medical Center, to his service as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, the steps and detours he took along the way – and the strong support from his colleagues and family members – make up a tale of perseverance, conviction, compassion and inspiration. However, his healthcare career journey began several years before he even joined Washoe Medical Center in the 1990s. It all began 7,446 miles away in Iran. This is Dr. Rahimzadeh’s story. Defining Moments The moment Dr. Rahimzadeh knew he wanted to dedicate his career to the healthcare field started during his childhood. Growing up in Iran during the midst of the Iranian Revolution, a thought that often came to mind was, “Who is helping all the people injured in the war?” The answer? The doctors. “In Iranian society, doctors are extremely valued, as they are the first to help people in need,” said Dr. Rahimzadeh. “I knew I wanted to give back to society in some way, and I see my time in Iran as very formative in my future career. I just didn’t know it yet.” After immigrating to the U.S. with his family during his preteen years, he only had one mission: to support his family. “My desires were to help my family not fall behind,” he said. “I didn’t have career aspirations at the time. All I knew is that I wanted to help my family and my community, which immediately opened its arms up to us, as well as be a good student and a good ambassador for Iran.” Dr. Rahimzadeh remembers several influential people that helped solidify his aspiration from “helping people” to “helping people as a healthcare professional.” Their family physician and other medical professionals in the family’s lives were monumental in helping him make this decision. Coupled with his natural love for the sciences, the decision to become a doctor became clear. But the question remained, “How do I get started in the healthcare field?” No Links to Healthcare? No Problem With no physicians in his immediate family and no direct connections to healthcare, Dr. Rahimzadeh set off to follow the advice he received from the influential people in his life: get a job at a healthcare facility, regardless of what the job title is. Some of his friends had recently joined Washoe Medical Center as patient transporters and mentioned job openings that were available. He sprang into action and headed to Washoe Medical Center to apply. Just one problem – he didn’t have the EMT certification requirement. Enter Barry O’Sullivan, who would be Dr. Rahimzadeh’s first supervisor at Washoe Medical Center (and a friend he still speaks with to this day). Barry saw promise in Dr. Rahimzadeh immediately. As a result, Barry made a suggestion to him that would ultimately set him on the course towards medicine. “Barry told me that he had an open position that I could work while completing the senior year of my undergraduate degree and studying for my EMT certification and eventually becoming a patient transporter. He told me Washoe Medical Center would support me in this endeavor. So, I asked what the job was and learned it was driving a shuttle bus.” Without hesitation, Dr. Rahimzadeh responded, “I’ll take it.” And so, his fulfilling journey with Washoe Medical Center, and eventually Renown Health, began. While he finished up the last few months of his degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, (UNR) Dr. Rahimzadeh proudly drove the shuttle bus a few days a week. The job not only helped him pay for his degree and put food on the table, but it also allowed him to begin living out his passion for helping people in the healthcare field. Dr. Rahimzadeh graduated with his bachelor's degree in Pre-Medicine from UNR and finished his EMT certification program. Sure enough, Barry and Washoe Medical Center lived up to their promises and helped him secure his first direct healthcare job as an EMT and Patient Transporter with REMSA. But he didn’t stop there – after several years as a ground transporter, his career literally took flight. He joined REMSA Ground Ambulance and eventually Care Flight as a Flight EMT II, caring for patients that were flying to Washoe Medical Center from nearby communities that needed lifesaving medical care. Helping save lives every day as a member of the emergency medical team is an ultimate feat, especially when it comes to Dr. Rahimzadeh. And he didn’t stop there. Valuing One-on-One Connections In the 1990s, as it is today, the U.S. experienced a significant primary care provider shortage which resulted in many medical schools encouraging students to complete their residencies in a primary care specialty, like internal medicine – which is precisely what Dr. Rahimzadeh set out to do at the University of Connecticut. However, his mind would soon change about the course of his career. “I had a deep, introspective conversation with my residency program director, openly and honestly chatting about my future,” Dr. Rahimzadeh said. “I ended up taking a week off of my residency and wrote a long pros and cons list about what I wanted to do with my life in the medical field.” Eventually he decided on anesthesiology because of the opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship with every surgery patient, regardless of their procedure. “Even though it’s for a short duration of time, it is a very impactful relationship,” he said. “I feel I am making a difference in the outcomes and lives of patients every day.” Dr. Rahimzadeh finished his internal medicine residency in three years and passed his board exam, and he went on to do the same thing for anesthesiology. He then ventured back home to Reno. Career Progression at Its Finest Dr. Rahimzadeh knows that people don’t always get to settle down in a place that influenced their upbringing, care and dream, yet he was able to make that vision a reality for himself. “I feel like Renown Health and myself have this intertwined relationship that led to my growth as a person and as a physician,” he said. “For that, I feel very blessed." Upon his arrival back to Reno with two residencies under his belt, Dr. Rahimzadeh was quickly hired at one of the two anesthesiology groups in town at the time. He started his career with Sierra Anesthesia and after working for the group for several years, he joined Associated Anesthesiologists of Reno in 2014, which went on to become one of the largest anesthesiology groups in northern Nevada. The group continuously worked very closely with Renown, taking care of all of its surgical patient needs and eventually becoming Renown Medical Group employees as of April 1, 2022, with Dr. Rahimzadeh setting up his home base at the Renown South Meadows campus. Today, Dr. Rahimzadeh wears three “hats” at Renown. As a medical professional first and foremost, his largest “hat” is his general anesthesiologist role, where he cares for patients in the operating room. Another significant “hat” is his role as the Medical Director for Surgical Services, where he reviews surgical patient charges alongside his dedicated team of nurses and ensures optimal patient outcomes by verifying they have had the appropriate workup to proceed with surgery in a safe manner. To round out his immense responsibilities with Renown, he serves as Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows, where he makes connections with colleagues and collaborates with leaders to review protocols, policies and address concerns that arise. Outside of Renown, Dr. Rahimzadeh is still a contributor within his own anesthesiology practice. He also is the current President of the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists and the Director to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, helping bridge the gap in anesthesia concerns between his northern and southern Nevada colleagues. He reflects on the opportunities Renown and our local community have extended to him by saying, “If you can dream big enough and continue to chase your dreams, you can make it happen right here.” On the COVID-19 Frontlines Nothing could prepare us for the dire situation hospitals on the east coast – especially those in Livingston, New Jersey – were experiencing at the beginning of the pandemic. Livingston was known as the “second hardest hit area” by COVID-19 in April of 2020. Hospitals were overwhelmed with patients in the ICU fighting for their lives. They needed help, and they needed help now. Unable and unwilling to sit idly by, Dr. Rahimzadeh and six of his colleagues from his practice traveled to Livingston to help. They jumped in on the frontlines alongside other anesthesiologists and intensivists to offset the sudden influx of COVID-19 patients. Many lives were saved, and Dr. Rahimzadeh was a direct part of that. “When you care and work with people that also care, you can move the needle a lot – it doesn’t matter where you're from,” he said. Home Means Nevada – and Renown Renown Health is deeply rooted in the northern Nevada community. Dr. Rahimzadeh is proud to be among a diverse team who have taken responsibility for its community for generations. "We live in a very passionate and caring community, which is often underestimated,” he said. “It’s clear to me that Renown refuses to settle. Renown is incredibly progressive in providing the best for the community. We never remain stagnant, we keep moving forward and we take care of your loved ones. This health system has never been able to sit still and settle for the status quo. That stands out to me.” One story especially sticks out to Dr. Rahimzadeh as the moment when he knew that Renown was home. In 1997 while working as a patient transporter, his grandmother passed away on the sixth floor of the Sierra Tower at what is now Renown Regional Medical Center. At the funeral, a huge bouquet of flowers arrived. Not being especially close to anyone in Reno yet, Dr. Rahimzadeh's family had no idea who sent the beautiful arrangement. Turns out, it was Rod Callahan, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Washoe Medical Center at the time. “At that point, I knew I wasn’t just a part of a workforce with thousands of employees,” said Dr. Rahimzadeh. “The COO cared so much about me that he felt compelled to send such a wonderful gift during a tragic time. That’s the value of a local, community-focused hospital; the people here know you and care about you. There’s a reason why people stay at Renown for so long – we feel that connection.” Dr. Rahimzadeh also reflected on how far Renown South Meadows has come, from the time he immigrated to the U.S. to today. “Growing up, Renown South Meadows was kind of a ‘mom and pop shop’ primarily serving senior citizens in one wing and surgical patients in the other,” he said. “Now, I am so proud to see how far it has come. It really made its niche in the community in a great way. The future is bright!” It’s clear that Dr. Rahimzadeh is leaving a lasting legacy with his family, from the local community to global medicine. His son is a senior at Baylor University in Texas with a strong desire to go into medicine, just like his dad. His daughter is a junior at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno and enjoys being involved in her community. His loving wife is a speech therapist in the area. The Rahimzadeh family is thriving together, and they all share the same conviction about northern Nevada and Renown: “This is home.”
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Prestigious Honor Shines National Spotlight on Healthcare In Nevada
Renown Health President and CEO Dr. Tony Slonim recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in the U.S. Renown Health President and CEO, Anthony Slonim, M.D., DrPH, FACHE, has been selected as one of the top influential clinical executives in the U.S. for his innovation and leadership in healthcare on a national level. Dr. Slonim is joined by an elite list of 50 esteemed honorees identified as Modern Healthcare’s “Most Influential Clinical Executives.” The list features leaders from top-rated institutions across the country including an impressive list of that includes Dr. Anthony Fauci, director, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues from Weill Cornell Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, UCLA Health and more. Fawn Lopez, publisher and vice president of Modern Healthcare, the industry's leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research and information, noted, “Under Slonim’s leadership, Renown a couple of years ago launched the Healthy Nevada Project® with the goal of doing comprehensive population health work. The Project has sequenced genetic data with 60,000 study participants was expanded across the state. The system is also building a new clinically integrated network after joining forces with the University of Nevada School of Medicine. In 2018, Slonim was appointed by the governor as one of the two hospital officials on the state’s Patient Protection Commission, which advises policymakers on access and equity issues. During the pandemic, Renown was an early leader in adopting home monitoring systems, offering free ICU beds to those in need, and expanding disease monitoring. Slonim wrote passionately about the loss of his father to COVID and used that experience as the backdrop to advocate for more family and staff support structures.” “Under Dr. Slonim’s leadership, Renown Health is an extraordinary force for good in our community,” said James DeVolld, chair of the Renown Health Board and Managing Director, Commercial Banking at First Independent Bank. “He leads by example to serve our patients, employees and community, helping pave the way for other leaders and physicians to thrive at Renown. We are honored to serve our community alongside Tony as we work together to make a genuine difference for those we serve.” “We never would have anticipated the challenges we encountered through the pandemic. The highest priority of all CEOs - whether you are the leader of a state or a health system - is to ensure safety and the public’s health. Knowing I had a solid team in place to mitigate, prepare, respond, communicate, and recover from the COVID 19 outbreak and provide access to people who needed us most, gave me confidence and Dr. Slonim was a critical part of that team,” said Steve Sisolak, Governor of the State of Nevada. “Little did we know we would also face an economic crisis, political turmoil and significant social unrest. While at times these challenges seemed daunting, they also accelerated our ability to learn and grow together, to prove we could manage through times of great ambiguity, to move at unprecedented speeds, and have ultimately prepared us to change our world for the better. On reflection, it turned out that we could not have asked for better preparation for our future. Thank you, Dr. Slonim.” “Tony is just getting started! Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) have announced our affiliation and the creation of the first integrated health system in northern Nevada, said Brian Sandoval, President, University of Nevada, Reno. “Dr. Slonim has always answered the call, and worked with me to improve health through proactive community-based prevention, to create an exceptional healthcare system for those with acute and chronic diseases, and to care for all people in our community. We are so fortunate to have him in Nevada.” During Dr. Slonim’s career at major healthcare organizations and academic institutions, he has developed a national profile as an academic leader and tenured professor, holding appointments as clinical professor in the departments of internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Dr. Slonim is also an expert in patient safety, accountable care, health care quality and innovative care delivery models focused on improving health within the community. Since joining Renown as CEO and President in July 2014, Dr. Slonim has completely reoriented northern Nevada’s largest locally governed, not-for-profit healthcare network. With a personal passion for population health, Dr. Slonim created the Institute for Healthcare Innovation, launching the nation’s first community-based, population health study that currently has more than 60,000 participants and is returning clinical results on the first three genetic conditions identified. The Healthy Nevada Project® is a collaboration with global leader in environmental data, Desert Research Institute, and personal genomics company, Helix. The Healthy Nevada Project combines genetic, environmental, social and clinical data to address individual and community health needs with the goal of improving health across the state, and the nation. The “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” awards and recognition program honors individuals in healthcare deemed by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare to be paving the way to better health through their executive responsibility, leadership qualities, community service and achievements inside and outside of their organization. Judging for the final ranking of the 50 Most Influential list is based on readers’ votes as well as input from the senior editors of Modern Healthcare. Dr. Slonim was among the initial nominee list of 150 names published in March 2021. For more information about the program, please contact Jodi Sniegocki. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.
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Renown Health Welcomes New Chief Information Technology Officer
Chuck Podesta, national IT leader to use technology to improve the health and well-being of Nevadans. Renown Health is pleased to announce Charles (Chuck) Podesta has been named Chief Information Officer. Podesta is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience leading some of the nation’s top healthcare IT teams. He has literally worked from coast to coast and is excited to bring his talents to Nevada. “We are pleased to bring an experienced and talented leader like Chuck Podesta to lead our information and technology areas at Renown,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO of Renown. “As Chief Information Officer, he will have the opportunity to foster a culture of innovation and excellence in information technology which serves hundreds of thousands of people across the state and the nation. Chuck will use the power of technology to bring a new level of convenience to patients and providers and will use his talents and team to improve the health and well-being of Nevadans.” Chuck most recently served as Interim Chief Information Officer for UCONN Health’s John Dempsey Medical Center, School of Medicine and Clinical Research IT. Prior to that, Chuck served as CIO for UCI Health/UC Irvine School of Medicine and the University of California Health System. He also served as CIO for University of Vermont Health Network/Fletcher Allen Health; Steward Health/Caritas Christi Healthcare; Berkshire Health; Baystate Health and UMASS Medical Center, all in the New England area. Podesta specializes in creating, resourcing and implementing strategic technology plans; maximizing the power of the Epic electronic medical record; streamlining governance and priorities; aligning IT and medical informatics needs across affiliated entities including a medical school environment, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and medical practices; partners to implement best of breed customer-driven digital tools; leads participation in state-wide health exchanges (HIE) and coaches and mentors IT teams. “Chuck’s experience and strengths in a variety of diverse and complex environments make him the perfect leader for us at this important time in our history,” explains Josiah (Sy) Johnson, Chief of Staff for Renown. Chuck will assure we are leading with innovative and contemporary approaches and integrating technology and expertise in our ongoing pursuit of excellence in improving health and healthcare in Nevada. “I am honored and excited to join the Renown Health family and the northern Nevada community,” says Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer. “I am impressed with the innovation and transformation at Renown; which has earned it a reputation as one of the nation’s leading health systems. I look forward to joining Renown Health at this exciting time in its history. I am excited to bring my skills and experience to create a positive experience when people use our technology. I am looking forward to leading the organization on this important journey.” Podesta is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and an active member of CHIME, HIMSS and the Society for Information Management (SIM). Podesta will begin at Renown on July 12. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, local not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,200 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath and Neurosciences. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.
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Prestigious Honor Shines National Spotlight on Health Care in Nevada
Renown Health CEO, Dr. Tony Slonim Elected to Highest Office with American Hospital Association. Renown Health President and CEO, Anthony Slonim, M.D., DrPH, FACHE, has been elected to serve as a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The Board of Trustees is the highest policymaking body of the AHA and has ultimate authority for the governance and management of the organization. The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents over 40,000 individual members and serves over 5,000 hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. As a representative and advocate for those serving in the health care field, Dr. Slonim's role as a Trustee will be to ensure that members' perspectives and needs are heard and addressed in national health policy development, legislative and regulatory debates, and judicial matters. Dr. Slonim joins an elite list of CEOs from the nation’s most respected health care organizations in AHA Board service, including Yale New Haven Health (CT), Dartmouth Hitchcock Health (NH), Providence Health (WA), Henry Ford Health (MI), UMass Memorial Health (MA), Vanderbilt University Medical Center (TN), and Advocate Aurora Health (WI). The American Hospital Association was founded in 1898, the same year Marie Curie began studying uranium as a treatment for cancer. Dr. Slonim is among the first health care leaders from Nevada elected to serve on the AHA Board of Trustees. In an announcement to the national media, the AHA wrote, “Anthony Slonim, MD, DrPH, leads Renown's charitable mission of making a genuine difference in the community's health and well-being for one of the nation's most innovative and progressive health systems.” Steve Sisolak, Governor of the State of Nevada, in support of Dr. Slonim’s nomination wrote, “Both Dr. Slonim and I share a common interest for improving the health of over 3 million residents of our state. I urge you to appoint him to this position, as his national leadership would benefit the American Hospital Association, our state and our nation.” Brian Sandoval, President of the University of Nevada wrote in his nomination, “Dr. Slonim has always answered the call, and worked with me to improve health through proactive community-based prevention, to create an exceptional healthcare system for those with acute and chronic diseases, and to care for all people in our community.” Bill Welch, President and CEO of the Nevada Hospital Association, wrote in support, “I consider Dr. Anthony Slonim to be one of the most extraordinary leaders in health care today.” Dr. Slonim is recognized nationally as a thought and opinion leader who does not accept the status quo. He is a quadruple board-certified physician by training and holds a Doctorate in Public Health and Health Policy with Fellowships in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), American Association of Physician Leaders (AAPL), and the College of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Slonim’s holds a university appointment at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, is a highly sought after speaker on healthcare trends and leadership development, holds a Six Sigma Black Belt and is a 2-time TEDx speaker. Dr. Slonim has authored more than 120 publications, 15 textbooks, and has millions of dollars in research funding to his name. Modern Healthcare has named Dr. Slonim as one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Healthcare. He has been named to Becker's Hospital Review's "Physician Leaders to Know" list since 2014. Before joining Renown Health in 2014, Slonim served on the senior leadership teams for Barnabas Health in New Jersey, Carilion Clinic in Virginia and Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Slonim, who was also a registered nurse, got his medical degree from New York Medical College, served four years in the U.S. Public Service Commissioned Corps as a commander, and earned both his master's and doctoral degrees in public health and health policy from The George Washington University's Center for Health Policy Studies. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improving the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.
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Renown Welcomes New Chief Clinical and Quality Officer; Thomas Graf, MD
Dr. Graf will support clinical providers in delivering the most effective, highest-quality patient care at lowest cost. Renown Health is excited to announce that Dr. Thomas Graf is joining the organization as its Chief Clinical and Quality Officer on September 20. In this role, Dr. Graf will support clinicians in delivering the most effective, highest-quality patient care at the lowest cost. Dr. Graf will also assist Renown in expanding innovative care models like Hospital at Home and remote patient monitoring technology to deliver patient-centered health care that both convenient and affordable. “At Renown, delivering the highest quality care is our #1 priority. Embracing our vision to improve the health of our community, we are pleased to welcome an experienced leader like Dr. Graf to our organization and to Nevada,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President and CEO, Renown Health. “As the Chief Clinical and Quality Officer, Tom will fuel Renown’s transformation to a value-based care organization, help advance technologies to enhance the patient experience, and collaborate with providers in our medical group, acute care hospitals, and through our clinically integrated network, accountable care organization and affiliation with UNR Med to create a healthier Nevada. Dr. Graf embodies our core values of caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence, and respect for all. We are thrilled to bring him to the Silver State, and to continue to offer health care that is affordable, accessible and of the highest quality.” Graf is a highly accomplished physician executive with leadership experience from leading health care and insurance organizations as well as a national consulting firm. A family medicine physician, researcher and academic, Dr. Graf has focused on driving quality improvement to lower the total cost of care. He has developed and published on care models that have delivered measurably better results for quality, cost, and experience in a variety of venues. He has practiced in an integrated delivery system, with over a decade at Geisinger (PA), as well as clinically integrated networks and accountable care organizations. He also has worked with a number of academic medical centers through his consulting work with The Chartis Group. Dr. Graf is respected for his adaptable and effective leadership style and the ability to create consensus through shared perspectives. Dr. Graf adds, “My goal is to produce greater value for the patient by delivering care that is of highest clinical quality. Renown has a national reputation for delivering excellent care using approaches that are creative, innovative and maximize technology, and I look forward to engaging physicians and administrators in an agenda that supports this vision.” Dr. Graf comes to Renown from Ascension in St. Louis, MO, where he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Population Health and Value Based Care Officer. He has extensive experience in population health, having been involved in clinical re-engineering and payment model evolution since 2005 with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the Physician Group Practice Demonstration project as well as Geisinger’s Proven Care® and ProvenHealth Navigator® programs. “Choosing a physician and hospital for their care is one of the most important decisions people will ever make. I am excited to begin my work with Renown to help patients enhance their health and well-being,” said Dr. Graf. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the great progress that Renown Health is making in becoming the best place to practice medicine and to receive care. I am excited to join this journey of transformation to value- based care, and to serve patients, clinicians and the community.” Dr. Graf will report directly to Dr. Tony Slonim, president and CEO, Renown Health. Dr. Graf earned his Doctor of Medicine from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and completed his Family Practice Residency at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region's largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, the region's only children's hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, the area's most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region's largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.
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Renown Welcomes Director, Cardiovascular Services; Jayson Morgan, MD, FACC
Dr. Morgan embraces a patient-centered approach to delivering a comprehensive cardiac and vascular program in Nevada. Renown Health is excited to announce that Dr. Jayson Morgan has been promoted to serve as Director of the Cardiovascular Services. Dr. Morgan, who formerly served as the Cardiology Division Chief, began his new position on September 6. Dr. Morgan plays a key role in supporting clinical and administrative leaders to embrace a patient-centered approach in delivering the most effective, highest-quality care within the Institute for Heart and Vascular Health and across Renown Health. Dr. Morgan will expand care, enhance clinical outcomes and transform cardiovascular health care through adopting technological advances which promote patient-centered health care that is both convenient and affordable. “At Renown, delivering the highest quality care is our #1 priority. Embracing our vision to improve the health of Nevadans, we are pleased to promote an extraordinary physician like Dr. Morgan to lead and further develop cardiovascular services - and elevate and grow this important Destination Health program to serve the growing needs of our community,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President and CEO, Renown Health. “Unfortunately, Heart Disease continues to be the #1 cause of death in Washoe County, the state and the nation. Dr. Morgan and his team focus on saving lives and reducing the number of people needing heart and vascular interventions. He embodies our core values of caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence, and respect for all, and we are pleased to have Dr. Morgan at the helm of our cardiovascular program.” Dr. Jayson Morgan is a highly accomplished physician leader. He served as both an Internal Medicine Hospitalist and an Internal Medicine resident at UCSF Health in San Francisco, where he specialized in the care of advanced heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and heart transplant patients. He completed his cardiology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA in 2017 and immediately joined Renown afterwards. In 2019, he served as director of the Echocardiography laboratory at Renown. In 2020, he was promoted to Division Chief, Cardiology. “The experts at Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health provide an integrated, multi-disciplinary, patient-centered approach to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular disease. I am proud to have Dr. Jayson Morgan leading a team of experts who respond to and treat heart and vascular problems that extend from mild to the most critical of emergencies. Our specialized physicians (cardiologists, interventional radiologists, heart and vascular surgeons) work collaboratively with our clinical team to determine the best treatment plan for each patient,” says Rahul Mediwala, MD, Medical Director, Health Services. “High blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke affect one in three Nevada residents. These diseases are preventable and many acute events are avoidable, by leading heart-healthy lifestyles including not using tobacco products, limiting sodium and adopting a plant-based diet, engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption, and following prescribed medication regimens. Together, we can make a genuine difference in improving the health of our families, friends and neighbors,” says Jayson Morgan, MD, FACC, Director, Cardiovascular Services. “We are pleased to offer a medically supervised, Pritikin-certified, intensive cardiac rehabilitation (ICR) program for those with heart disease. Our expert team creates tailored plans, providing the support heart patients need to make lasting lifestyle changes.” Dr. Morgan continues, “Renown now has 3 cardiac surgeons, 17 cardiologists and 16 advanced practice providers who provide excellent cardiovascular care. Our technical capabilities have expanded with a structural heart program including trans catheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR), trans catheter mitral valve repairs (Mitraclip), patent foramen ovale closures, and atrial septal-defect closures; with over 100 structural heart procedures being performed each year. Our Cardiothoracic surgeons are the highest volume in the region and consistently exceed national performance standards for operative care. Renown Regional Medical Center was the first hospital in the region to implant the CardioMEMS pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system for advanced heart failure patients, dramatically reducing hospitalizations in these patients. Three interventional cardiologists have joined our team which has expanded our capacity to handle interventions for complex coronary artery disease. Renown’s three electrophysiologists have performed over 1000 procedures this year, drastically decreasing the symptomatic burden of atrial fibrillation in our community. In addition, with the UNR Medical School affiliation, we look forward to even greater contributions to cardiovascular research.” Dr. Morgan graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and graduated from Yale University with his undergraduate education in Chemical Engineering. “I am excited to continue to help patients enhance their health and well-being,” said Dr. Morgan. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the great progress that Renown Health is making in becoming the best place to practice medicine and to receive care. I am excited to advance our journey of transformation to value-based care, and to serve patients, clinicians and the community.” To make an appointment with a provider at Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, request that your primary care provider make a referral. For more information on Renown’s Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, visit renown.org/Health-Services/Heart-Care. Renown Institute for Health and Vascular Health is the recipient of a number of national awards for outstanding clinical care and service, including: In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings for 2021, Renown Regional Medical Center- #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. Renown Regional Medical Center is High Performing, its highest rating possible, for Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Awarded by the American College of Surgeons for the Renown Regional earned America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award™ (2021) for Superior clinical outcomes in treating pulmonary embolism, respiratory system failure, sepsis, and diabetic emergencies. Regional also earned the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award (2021), for superior outcomes. Designated Level II Trauma Center. For the 30th year, Renown Regional Medical Center is northern Nevada's only designated level II trauma center. Renown Regional awarded The Get with the Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement award for continually ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, as well as AHA’s Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving honor for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. Renown Regional Medical Center is one of only 225 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. The award recognizes Renown’s success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that Renown has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, the region’s only children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.
Read More About Renown Welcomes Director, Cardiovascular Services; Jayson Morgan, MD, FACC
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Dr. Susan Lee to Lead Renown South Meadows Medical Center
Renown Health is pleased to announce that Susan Lee, DO, MBA will serve as Chief Operating Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Dr. Lee begins her new role on March 7, and succeeds Chris Nicholas, who resigned last month for a position with a health system in Florida. Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO, Renown Health, announced Dr. Lee’s internal promotion today by writing, “Embracing our vision to improve the health of our community, we are empowering leaders to play a greater role in improving physician, employee and patient experiences; growing services to our community; providing Reliable and Exact Care and meeting rigorous standards for operational excellence and efficiency.” Dr. Slonim noted that he was excited as, “Dr. Lee expands her role, promotes a spirit of unity across the enterprise, and continues to make progress on achieving goals central to Renown’s success.” In her new role as Chief Operating Officer for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Dr. Lee will work with Jennifer Allen, MSN, director of nursing and the South Meadows leadership medical staff and team to lead South Meadows to achieve its strategic and operational goals. Dr. Lee is an experienced, dynamic physician executive and operational leader with a record of service growth, clinical quality, patient communication and execution. She is experienced in cross-functional collaboration and nationally recognized for organizational change management. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, Dr. Lee has based her clinical practice as a hospitalist on the mind-body connection and a collaborative model with patients and families. Dr. Lee joined Renown Health as the Chair of Medical Specialties in the summer of 2020 to manage hospital-based physician practices. She was promoted to Chief Medical Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center in February 2021 to oversee inpatient clinical operations, including length of stay, hospital capacity, care management functionality, interdisciplinary rounds and Medical Staff services. Since September of 2021, as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care, she has been responsible for clinical operations, strategic direction, hospital-based physician management, the Medical Staff Office, regulatory standards, and quality and financial outcomes for Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Prior to serving at Renown, Dr. Lee served as Chief of Hospital Medicine at Carilion Clinic, a 7-facility nonprofit, integrated health system headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Lee is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (MBA), Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Duke University (BA). She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Association for Physician Leadership. Renown South Meadows Medical Center, located in south Reno, is a 76-bed acute care community hospital offering exceptional surgical and medical services in a nurturing environment. Renown South Meadows Medical Center is home to south Reno’s only 24/7 Emergency Department and staffed with Board-Certified Emergency physicians. Renown South Meadows Medical Center offers advanced care for patients including comprehensive primary care; x-ray and imaging services; lab services; heart care; OB/GYN; physical rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services; nuclear medicine and surgical services including orthopedics. As a not-for-profit organization, the Renown South Meadows Medical Center team embraces their role in improving the health and well-being of the people and communities served and provides necessary healthcare services regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, age or ability to pay. In addition, Renown South Meadows Medical Center has been nationally recognized for providing the highest quality care and service, including: In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown South Meadows was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center) for 2020. Renown South Meadows was rated High Performing for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and COPD. A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, safety and volumes. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. Renown South Meadows Medical Center received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® accreditation for Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement and Total Shoulder Replacement and was recognized as Top Performer on Key Quality Measures.® Dr. Lee says she "understands that health care today is as much about social skills and navigating multiple relationships as it is about clinical knowledge." Throughout her career, Dr. Lee has done much to contribute to a culture of innovation and transformation. Dr. Lee believes that, “providers need physicians, nurses and care teams who have high adaptability, flexibility, and, above all, the ability to care and be kind." Dr. Lee coaches teams to be responsive, empathic, have situational awareness and employ their clinical abilities at the highest level. She will often ask questions of her team to understand how they are "wired" to drive innovation and transformation- and to build culture and teamwork. She has hired and coached over 100 hospitalist physicians — many of them women — and promoted and served as a reference for hundreds of nurses, staff leader and advanced care providers. Dr. Lee serves as a peer mentor for other women, and men, who aspire to physician and healthcare leadership. The team at Renown South Meadows Medical Center is seeking great employees for careers in service; apply on line at https://careers.renown.org/.
Read More About Dr. Susan Lee to Lead Renown South Meadows Medical Center
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Hometown Health CEO David Hansen Announces Retirement, Bethany Sexton Named Successor
Renown Health announced today that David Hansen, CEO will retire on October 7, 2022 from Hometown Health, Nevada’s largest not-for-profit insurance company. Over the last two years that Hansen has overseen Renown’s health plan, he has contributed significantly to ensuring wide-ranging medical coverage and excellent customer service for more than 100,000 members across Nevada. Bethany Sexton, MBA, will assume the role of CEO of Hometown Health effective September 12, 2022 as part of a smooth transition and succession plan. Ms. Sexton currently serves as Chief Transformation Officer for Renown Health, responsible for value-based care delivery including insurance and managed care contracting, the Renown Direct Contracting Entity (DCE), Renown Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and Western Clinical Alliance, a clinically integrated network of physicians. Mr. Hansen led a number of significant accomplishments for Hometown Health including the addition of 82 new provider groups for northern Nevada health plan subscribers and a Medicare network in southern Nevada. Hansen, the Hometown Health team introduced a Transitional Care Navigator program resulting in reduced hospital readmission rates, added Renown-branded insurance products on Nevada Health Link, Nevada’s Health Insurance Exchange and helped to grow Senior Care Plus, Hometown Health’s Medicare Advantage Plan membership during the 2022 Annual Election Period. Hansen and the Hometown Health team implemented a number of Total Cost of Care initiatives in partnership with Renown Medical Group to make premiums and health care costs more affordable, including health outreach efforts and medical screenings to improve health care for members over age 65. "Leading Hometown Health for the past two years, and through the pandemic, has been a great honor. I am incredibly thankful to our members, my fellow employees, our broker and employer partners, and our leadership team for giving me the privilege to serve," said Hansen. “Hometown Health and Renown are community-focused organizations and it has been a privilege to be part of a team that gives back to improve the health and well-being of those we serve. I have spent hours working collaboratively with Bethany over the last few years and know she is perfect person to lead our health plan into a new era.” As CEO, Hansen worked closely with Renown senior leadership to put a thoughtful leadership transition plan in place, culminating with the promotion of Bethany Sexton to the position of CEO. Consistent with the plan, Hansen will continue to offer guidance and perspective as he and Sexton complete the transition over the next few weeks. "David’s vision of excellence, his drive and experience has transformed Hometown Health to be both member and customer-focused,” said Dr. Thomas Graf, CEO of Renown Health. “David has done much to modernize and build a first-rate health plan. We thank David for all his accomplishments and wish him a wonderfully satisfying retirement.” As CEO of Hometown Health, Ms. Sexton will be responsible for driving growth across the organization, including the development and execution of strategic plans; introduction of new programs and services; membership growth; operational, financial and customer service excellence; and continued improvements in clinical quality with a focus on lowering the cost of care for members in northern Nevada. Ms. Sexton has served in a number of key leadership roles for Renown Health over the past eight years, including Vice President of Operations & Development, VP/Administrator for the Department of Medicine, VP Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement, and VP of Revenue Cycle in Finance. With 20 years of health care experience, in both clinical and administrative settings, and more than 9 years at Renown, she has developed collaborative partnerships and created innovative new solutions to meet rapidly changing employee and customer expectations. "I believe one of the most important duties of a leader is preparing the next generation of leadership to succeed," added Dr. Graf. "There is no question that Bethany Sexton is the right person to lead Hometown Health into its next chapter. She has integrity, business acumen, energy, leadership skills and deep knowledge of value based care to ensure Hometown Health delights its membership and she will help Renown Health achieve our strategy of being both a Care Leader and a Health Partner for providers and patients in our community.” Bethany Sexton earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nevada, Reno and her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Business Administration and Management from Western Washington University. She is passionate about community service, most recently serving as Chair, Board of Directors for Immunize Nevada, and as a former Board Member for Nevada Women's Fund, Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and the American Red Cross. Ms. Sexton and her family make their home in Reno, NV. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org.
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Adnan Akbar, MD, Appointed Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care
Experienced leader to support physicians at Renown Regional and Renown South Meadows Medical Centers Renown Health is pleased to announce that Adnan “Eddy” Akbar, MD, will serve as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care, overseeing physicians at Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Renown Health is the region's only Level II Trauma Center, serving more than 1 million people and a 100,000 square mile reach – across Nevada, Lake Tahoe and eastern California. Dr. Akbar begins his new role on July 25, succeeding former Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care, Dr. Susan Lee, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Renown South Meadows Medical Center on March 7, 2022. Thomas Graf, MD, CEO for Renown Health, announced Dr. Akbar’s internal promotion today by writing, “Embracing our vision to improve the health of our community, we are empowering leaders to play a greater role in improving physician, employee and patient experiences; growing services to our community; providing Reliable and Exact Care® and meeting rigorous standards for operational excellence and efficiency.” Dr. Graf noted that he was excited as, “Dr. Akbar expands his role, promotes a spirit of unity across the enterprise, and continues to make progress on achieving goals central to Renown’s success.” In his new role as Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care, Dr. Akbar will join Dr. Rahul Mediwala, Chief Medical Officer for Health Services, to lead physicians and clinicians across the Renown enterprise. Dr. Akbar will report directly to Chris Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center. Dr. Akbar is an experienced, dynamic physician executive and operational leader with a record of hospital operations, medical staff leadership and engagement, quality improvement, patient safety, patient experience, risk management, utilization management and clinical documentation improvement. Chris Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center wrote, “Over the last seven years and through all the physician leadership positions he has held, Dr. Akbar has had an intense focus on improving patient care, driving hospital and operational improvements, and demonstrating the best of Renown’s mission, vision and values. Renown has a national reputation for delivering health care that is affordable, accessible and of the highest quality and I look forward to working with Dr. Akbar to engage physicians and administrators in an agenda that supports this vision.” Dr. Susan Lee, Chief Operations Officer of Renown South Meadows Medical Center added, “As we considered the needs of the organization and our future, we determined that Dr. Akbar was the right person to lead physicians across Acute Services. In addition, Dr. Akbar has demonstrated strong and engaging leadership with physicians, nurses, the senior management team and across our hospitals and we are confident in Eddy’s ability to contribute to the great progress that Renown Health is making in becoming the best place to practice medicine and to receive care.” Dr. Akbar has been with Renown Health for seven years, previously serving as Secretary of Medical Staff, an Internal Medicine physician, Chair of the Department of Medicine, Division Chief for Hospital Medicine and most recently as a hospitalist physician of Renown Medical Group and Associate Chief Medical Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center. Dr. Akbar is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Nevada-Reno, School of Medicine and a member of the Clinical Faculty at St. Georges University School of Medicine, Grenada. Dr. Akbar is fluent in four languages including Urdu, Pushto and Hindi. Dr. Akbar completed his residency in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and earned his medical degree from Aga Khan Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr. Akbar is completing his master’s in healthcare administration from Cornell University. Dr. Akbar’s research interests include observation criteria and appropriate utilization management of hospitalized patients, development and usage of dedicated Epic order sets to improve patient care and outcomes, advancement and development of Milestone appropriate care during acute hospitalization and transitional care policies to reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient care. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals rankings, Renown Regional is #1 in the State of Nevada for 2021. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. Renown South Meadows was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center) for 2021. Renown Regional Medical Center is High Performing, its highest rating possible, for Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Renown South Meadows was rated High Performing for Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement and COPD. A hospital's score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, safety and volumes. Hospitals earning a High Performing rating were significantly better than the national average. The team at Renown Health is seeking great employees for careers in service; apply online at https://careers.renown.org/. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
Read More About Adnan Akbar, MD, Appointed Chief Medical Officer for Renown Acute Care
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William 'Bill' Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE Appointed Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health
Today, Renown Health announced the appointment of William “Bill” Plauth, MD, MMM, CPE as Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health, effective April 3, 2023. “I am excited to have Dr. Plauth join our team," said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO of Renown Health. “Dr. Plauth is a distinguished physician with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Plauth’s extensive commitment to service is in alignment with our mission, vision, and values. He is a goal-oriented, collaborative executive who brings a depth of experience to Renown Health and to our community. He inspires others with his intelligence and proven abilities to engage others in advancing clinical quality and performance. I look forward to the strides our health system will make in helping people live better and healthier lives under his leadership.” In his role as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Plauth will be responsible for continuous quality improvement, effective clinical resource management and serve as a liaison for organized medical staff activities. He will partner with nursing leadership to actively support performance improvement, risk management, and efficient resource utilization linked to evidence-based medicine. He will listen and foster a close relationship between and among physicians, management, and clinical staff. As CMO, Dr. Plauth will provide expertise, coordination, and leadership in support of elected medical staff leaders and partner with UNR Med leadership to ensure a positive training environment across Renown Health. “As a physician, I have always been humbled by the trust our patients and their families invest in all of us as a healthcare team,” says Bill Plauth, MD. “Over the years, to fulfill that trust, I have enjoyed engaging with my colleagues across clinical teams to adopt innovative approaches that respect those who do the work and to promote ease of practice. Such collaboration makes it possible for us to provide top-notch, compassionate care that addresses our patients' unique challenges and to improve their health and quality of life. At the end of the day, it is the people that make the difference.” Dr. Plauth adds, “I am delighted to join Renown Health, which as a not-for-profit, charitable health care organization has a long history of compassionate service. I look forward to working with my new medical, nursing, and administrative colleagues as we fulfill our mission of making a genuine difference in the health and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve.” Renown Health has more than 7,200 employees and serves Northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and Northeast California. The system includes Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital and Renown Children’s Hospital. Renown also has over 50 medical group, urgent care, and outpatient imaging practices. Hometown Health is the insurance division of Renown Health and is northern Nevada’s largest local, not-for- profit health insurance company that provides wide-ranging medical coverage. Since 2014, Dr. Plauth has provided clinical leadership at Centura Health (CO), first serving as Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, CO, and then for the last four years as Chief Medical Officer for Centura Penrose & St. Francis Hospitals in Colorado Springs. He was responsible for clinical quality, high reliability patient safety initiatives, process improvement, pharmacy, care management, infection control and medical staff services. Formerly, Dr. Plauth served for fourteen years with CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, NM, first as a hospitalist and then with concurrent roles that included Chief of Staff; Medical Director, Clinical Informatics; Medical Director, Palliative Care and Acting Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Medical Staff Affairs. Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Care, Dr. Plauth is a leader in quality improvement, patient safety and clinical informatics. He has also served as a medical director of a Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Center. Dr. Plauth received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and his Medical Doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta with a sub-internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He completed his internship and residency at University of California San Francisco, where he also served as Chief Resident. In the most recent U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 in the State of Nevada. No other hospital in Nevada earned recognition from U.S. News. About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. To join the Renown Health team, visit www.renown.org/careers.
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Renown Board of Directors Chair, Jim DeVolld, Receives NHA Award
Renown Health Board of Directors Chair, Jim DeVolld, Receives Nevada Hospital Association’s Commitment to Community Award for Trustee Excellence Award. Renown Health Board of Directors Chair, Jim DeVolld has been awarded the prestigious 2019 Commitment to Community Award for Trustee Excellence from the Nevada Hospital Association (NHA). Each year at the association’s annual meeting, the Nevada Hospital Association publicly acknowledges one trustee who exemplifies exceptional leadership and the characteristics to which all hospital and health system Board leaders should aspire, including: Professional excellence Outstanding achievements Innovative accomplishments Extraordinary compassion in caring for the community Success in overcoming barriers, and Exemplary contributions to effectively advocate on behalf of hospitals, patients, and the healthcare system. “Jim DeVolld’s personal connection and passion for improving the community’s overall health are what drive his commitment to the Renown Health Board,” NHA’s President & CEO, Bill Welch said. “Under Jim’s leadership, Renown Health is nationally recognized for top levels of quality and safety, most notably through advances made in clinical care, the adoption of health information technology and the development of team-based and patient-centered medical homes.” DeVolld was nominated by President & CEO of Renown Health, Anthony D. Slonim, MD, D.Ph. and his senior leadership team at Renown Health. Through Jim and the Boards’ support, the integrated healthcare system now includes four hospital campuses, 120 sites of primary, urgent and specialty care, affiliations with Stanford Medicine, the University of Nevada-Reno Medical School, St. George’s University in Grenada (SGU) School of Medicine, and a health plan, Hometown Health that serves more than 180,000 members. Renown Health’s more than 7,000 employees and 800 providers serve as the regional referral care center for over 100,000 square miles, from Sacramento to Salt Lake City. An essay was submitted describing DeVolld’s leadership of the 43 member Renown Health Board of Directors with deep admiration and chronicled a long list of organizational accomplishments. One nominee stated, “Jim sets a stellar example as a Board Chair who tirelessly advocates for improvement, inclusion, responsibility, preparation, taking the ‘high road,’ and the importance of collaborative, positive relationships. Jim’s commitment has extended beyond traditional healthcare to include economic health and community health and well-being. "A lifelong Nevadan, Jim DeVolld grew up in Yerington before moving to Reno 31 years ago. Jim DeVolld’s32-year-old daughter was born at Renown Regional Medical Center and his family receives care at Renown Health. Jim DeVolld’s personal connection and passion for improving the community’s overall health are what drive his commitment to the Renown Health Board. To ensure the world-class care our community expects and deserves, he has focused first on caring for Renown’s 7,000 employees who provide outstanding care every day. After eight years serving in various roles with Renown Health’s board of directors, Jim DeVolld, managing director, commercial banking at First Independent Bank, was elected as the chairman of the board, Renown Health for a two-year term, effective January 1, 2019. Renown’s four governing boards serve a key role in achieving Renown’s mission of making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities in Northern Nevada. Board members help guide the health system with the charitable mission of “making a genuine difference in the health and well-being,” based on the principles of caring, integrity, collaboration and excellence. Jim DeVolld has spent decades working in the Northern Nevada banking industry. He also serves as chairman of the Nevada Tax Commission and is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. About the NHA The Nevada Hospital Association is a not-for-profit, statewide trade association representing Nevada’s acute care hospitals along with psychiatric, rehabilitation and other specialty hospitals as well as health related agencies and organizations throughout the state. Allied with the American Hospital Association, the NHA is an independent organization headquartered in Reno, Nev. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.
Read More About Renown Board of Directors Chair, Jim DeVolld, Receives NHA Award
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Dr. Rahul Mediwala Promoted to Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Mediwala’s leadership through challenging times helps Renown to thrive despite uncertainty ofCOVID-19 pandemic Rahul Mediwala, MD, CPE, has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Health Services Division at Renown Health after serving as interim CMO since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, working tirelessly to lead a team on the frontlines who continued to provide quality and compassionate care to our community through the uncertainty and pressure of the pandemic. Dr. Mediwala has been with Renown for 11 years, originally joining Renown Medical Group to lead the nephrology program and as medical director for the dialysis unit. Over the years, he has taken on additional leadership roles for Renown Medical Group; serving as chair of Medical Specialties, and Chief Medical Officer for the Renown Accountable Care Organization. “I am thankful for our team of physicians, care providers, medical assistants, patient access representatives, administrators and all who have worked through change to continue to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve,” said Dr. Mediwala. “I look forward to continuing to lead this talented team at Renown as we work to find how we can adapt to meet the changing needs of our health system and community to thrive into the future.” Dr. Mediwala has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in biomedical engineering, his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and served as chief resident for Internal Medicine at University Hospitals in Cincinnati and subsequently completed a nephrology fellowship in Cincinnati. Prior to joining Renown, Dr. Mediwala practiced with a large nephrology specialty group in Ohio. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.
Read More About Dr. Rahul Mediwala Promoted to Chief Medical Officer