Newswise — Dr. Peter J. Plantes has joined UT Southwestern Medical Center as vice president for medical affairs and executive director of the medical service, research and development plan.
“I am delighted and enthusiastic to bring my national and focused operational experience to the UT Southwestern health system and the North Texas region of Dallas-Fort Worth at a time of immense opportunity and change related to national health reform,” said Dr. Plantes, appointed to the position after a national search. “It’s critical during this time of dramatic, across-the-board changes with health care reform to navigate toward the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls.”
Dr. Plantes’ focus and agenda include:• Developing growth strategies for the university faculty practice; • Promoting the highest quality patient-centered care via improvements in clinical operations, access, and the application of key performance metrics;• Working to further enhance faculty relationships with Parkland Health and Hospital System, Children’s Medical Center Dallas and the Veteran’s Administration North Texas Health Care System; and• Continuing to enhance a strong financial operational system for the clinical practice.“As a general internist my aim has always been to ‘catalyze’ and enable the whole system to deliver excellent continuum-of-care for each and every patient. The component parts then work together to create growth, quality service and success,” he said.
Dr. Plantes’ position was held previously by Dr. Bruce A. Meyer, who was named executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern in April.
“Peter has a very collegial style. He brings a national perspective, but because he has previously worked in Dallas, he knows the local market well,” said Dr. Meyer, also associate dean for health system affairs and professor of obstetrics and gynecology. “He has experience at both academic institutions, in terms of faculty practice plans and relationships with safety-net hospitals and children’s hospitals.
“He also brings a valuable background in primary-care development and supply-chain enhancements, and has experience as a consultant for VHA Inc. While serving several academic medical centers about how to be more effective in clinical processes, he enabled them to grow their referral medicine practice while maintaining the academic mission.”
Dr. Plantes served as senior associate dean for clinical affairs at Medical College of Wisconsin and CEO for Medical College Physicians, the college’s faculty practice plan. He previously was vice president of clinical affairs in the business operations division of VHA Inc. (the former Voluntary Hospitals of America), which included operational leadership, development and health services consultant roles serving hundreds of the VHA member health care organizations, community physicians and 18 VHA regional offices.
He also served as vice president and senior medical director at United Healthcare of North Carolina along with leadership roles at MetroHealth System and the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Plantes earned his medical degree and completed internal medicine residency training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.
“I’m very enthusiastic about the leadership here with Dr. (Daniel K.) Podolsky’s experience with the complexities of the Boston market, Dr. Meyer’s commitment to the health system, and so many fantastic people across the board,” Dr. Plantes said. “I’m very encouraged that it appears all the clinical chairs see the same opportunity and necessity for the success, not only of their departments, but the system as a whole.”
RSS