ONC has appointed a new National Coordinator to take over duties for Karen DeSalvo, MD, as she moves full-time to her position as acting assistant secretary for health. Vindell Washington, MD, will oversee the ONC, effective Aug. 12.
Dr. DeSalvo served as National Coordinator since January 2014. In October 2014, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell appointed Dr. DeSalvo as acting assistant secretary for health in the Ebola crisis.
"Since that time, [Dr. DeSalvo] has provided critical leadership on the Department's public health agenda while simultaneously serving as National Coordinator," Secretary Burwell said in an HHS memo announcing the leadership transition.
Dr. Washington, her successor, most recently served as ONC's principal deputy national coordinator. He previously was president of Baton Rouge, La.-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System Medical Group and CMIO of the health system.
"In his capacity as National Coordinator, Vindell will continue to lead the administration's efforts to leverage health information technology to reform how we pay for and deliver care; transform health research and innovation to empower clinicians, individuals and communities to manage their health; and oversee implementation of the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan and the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap," Secretary Burwell wrote.
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