- Mar 26, 2024
Being leading physicians overseeing all the clinical operations in healthcare organizations, Chief Medical Officers are important personnel since they also take care of hiring, expense maintenance, and make an effort to find the most efficient way to get the highest quality of care. Furthermore, they are at the forefront of the organization since they make sure that they are at par with the latest healthcare technology trends. They also serve as the link between the clinical and administrative departments of the organization, ensuring smooth cooperation to work toward positive health and business outcomes.
Today, the role of CMO is not limited to hospitals and medical centers. Health tech companies, health insurance companies, or any business that has health as its vertical can benefit from having a CMO. They increase the credibility of these organizations with their clinical expertise and provide a health user-centric approach that aligns with their business endeavors. According to a review of 150 top health tech companies, 37% of them have a CMO in their leadership team. Currently, there are around 12,519 CMOs in the US, and their numbers continue to grow. In this blog read more about ten of the top Chief Medical Officers who are exemplary leaders, steering their respective organizations towards success.
Top 10 Chief Medical Officers
1. Sree Chaguturu, MD
Dr. Sree Chaguturu, MD, is a reputed internal medicine physician who serves as executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Health. As CMO, he leads the brand and medical affairs towards achieving advanced clinical quality standards, providing affordable and accessible care, and improving outcomes. He is also associated with the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), an organization for the advancement of telehealth, and will soon assume the role of ATA Chair in May 2024. Dr. Sree continues his practice at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Specialization: Internal medicine physician
Prior experience: Prior to his promotion, he served as CMO for CVS Caremark which is a pharmacy benefits management brand of CVS Health. He has also held key positions in various organizations like Mass General Brigham, and McKinsey & Company, previously.
Known for: He is one of the top Chief Medical Officer today, featuring in Modern Healthcare’s list of 50 most influential clinical executives for 2023.
2. Kate Goodrich, MD
Dr. Kate Goodrich is an influential personality in the healthcare world. She is currently Chief Medical Officer for Humana, one of the top healthcare insurance companies in the US. She oversees clinical operations, healthcare research, physician engagement, policies, and the advancement of care strategies. She carries on an active clinical medicine practice and serves as a faculty member at the George Washington University Medical Centre, where she is engaged in teaching and the dissemination of knowledge.
Specialization: Clinical medicine
Prior experience: She initially joined Humana as Senior Vice President of Clinical Analytics and Trend in its clinical solutions segment. As SVP, her focus was to ensure clinical programs designed and produced are affordable and improved health outcomes. Before her affiliation with Humana, Dr. Kate held a diversified portfolio of professional positions, including the Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMO for the Centre for Clinical Standards and Quality.
3. Tony G. Farah, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Tony G. Farah is a renowned and highly respected cardiologist. He leads Highmark Health as its Chief Medical and Clinical Transformation Officer. He is responsible for advancing clinical care to ensure the best standards of safety and quality while enhancing the healthcare experience with accessible and affordable care.
Specialization: Cardiology
Prior experience: He has also served as CMO for AHN and Allegheny General Hospital.
Known for: He was instrumental in the formation of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), a provider company for Highmark Health, with over 2500 employed and affiliated physicians. Dr. Tony has made noteworthy contributions to many innovations for cardiac health and over 100 clinical trials. Over the last two decades, he has mentored hundreds of medical students, residents, and fellows, playing a vital role in readying the next generation of cardiologists.
4. Elissa Charbonneau D.O., M.S.
Dr. Elissa Charbonneau is an experienced physiatrist leading Encompass Health as its Chief Medical Officer since 2015. As CMO, she is responsible for overseeing medical operations in over 150 hospitals. She dedicates her efforts towards advancing quality standards and care provided towards rehabilitation in these hospitals. She has been associated with Encompass Health since 1992, starting as a staff physician at its venture, the New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland, and later becoming its medical director.
Specialization: Physiatrist
Prior experience: Before assuming the role of CMO, she served as Vice President of Medical Services.
5. Vidya Raman Tangella
Dr. Vidya Raman Tangella is the Chief Medical Officer of Teladoc Health. She leads clinical strategy, quality, and research initiatives, focusing on health equity, training, and evidence-based and best clinical practices. Dr. Vidya believes in leveraging the power of science, data, and emerging healthcare technology trends to improve healthcare solutions. She works closely with product and engineering teams to develop innovations that improve health outcomes.
Specialization: Clinical medicine
Prior experience: Prior to joining Teladoc, she was general manager of healthcare and life science solutions at Amazon Web Services, where she helped create technology and data-driven healthcare solutions. She also held leadership roles that enabled innovations for better health solutions in companies such as UnitedHealth, Johnson & Johnson, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
6. Andrew B. Bindman, MD
As the executive VP and CMO at Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Andrew G. Bindman handles the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and its associated hospitals. He is renowned in the organization and is mainly focused on upholding innovation and research while refining the quality of care by collaborating with clinical and operational leaders.
Specialization: Internal medicine
Prior experience: Dr. Andrew was also an internal medicine physician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, for over 30 years.
Known for: During his time at the university, he conducted research in health access and outcomes, publishing over 200 scientific articles. Dr. Bindman’s distinguished career in government has expanded to leadership and advisory positions in the U.S. Energy and Commerce Committees, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
7. Paul Burton, MD, PhD, M.R.C.S, F.R.C.P
Dr. Paul Burton serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the biotechnology company Amgen. He oversees the company’s global medical, regulatory, and safety affairs, R&D strategy, and operations.
Specialization: Reconstructive orthopedic surgery
Prior experience: He has vast experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in various phases of drug discovery and development involving small and large molecules, and mRNA. He also holds expertise in several therapeutic areas, including oncology and cardiology. Prior to Amgen, he was the CMO of Moderna, where he was responsible for safety, medical strategy, and pharmacovigilance. He was also with Johnson & Johnson for 16 years in various leadership roles, including that of Chief Global Medical Affairs Officer for its Janssen unit.
8. Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD
Dr. Merdad Parsey is executive vice president and Chief Medical Officer of Gilead Sciences. He is one of the top Chief Medical Officers. As CMO, he leads Gilead’s global clinical development and medical affairs organizations, providing oversight for clinical trials and development operations.
Specialization: Critical care medicine and pulmonology
Prior experience: Prior to Gilead, he led clinical development in various areas, such as oncology, inflammation, etc., at Genentech as Senior Vice President. He was also the assistant professor of medicine and director for critical care medicine at New York University School of Medicine.
Known for: He was recognized as one of the 50 influential clinical executives in 2020 by Modern Healthcare.
9. Aida Habtezion, MD, MSc, FRCPC, AGAF
Dr. Aida Habtezion is the chief medical officer of Pfizer. Spearheading Pfizer’s global medical and safety organization, she oversees that appropriate safety and user information of Pfizer medications is conveyed to users, physicians and regulatory bodies. She also leads Pfizer’s Institute of Translational Equitable Medicine, an initiative to achieve equity.
Specialization: Gastroenterology
Prior experience: Before coming to Pfizer, she was a scientist, a tenured professor, and a practicing physician at Stanford University’s School Of Medicine in the gastroenterology and hepatology division.
Known for: She has authored several impactful publications in major peer-reviewed journals.
10. Margaret-Mary Wilson, MD, MBA, MRCP,FNMCP
Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson is executive vice president and Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealth group. She leads the efforts for advancing clinical innovations to ensure health equity, affordability, and accessibility, and improve health outcomes. She is also known as a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Specialization: Internal and geriatric medicine, MBA in healthcare management
Prior experience: Before assuming her current role, she was associate chief medical officer in the company. She also served as CMO for UnitedHealthcare Global, where she led efforts to advance its global care delivery initiatives.
Conclusion
Chief Medical Officers are vital for healthcare organizations. They serve as the bridge between the many departments in organizations, ensuring the best clinical practices and regulations are adhered to. The top Chief Medical Officers featured in our blog prove how expertise in clinical practices and business aspects can transform health and business outcomes. It’s all about finding the right way to blend it.
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