RENOWN NEWSROOM

Amy McGaha, MD, MPH, FAAFP has joined the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health as department chair of Family and Community Medicine. Dr. McGaha comes to Nevada from Omaha, Nebraska where she served as the Roland L. Kleeberger, MD professor and chair for the Creighton University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine.  Dr. McGaha previously served as the assistant director of medical education for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the professional membership association for family physicians, working to develop family medicine workforce and medical education. She has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and on the board for CHI Health, the clinical partner of Creighton University School of Medicine. Prior to those appointments, Dr. McGaha provided inpatient and outpatient care for Freeman Health Systems in Missouri. Dr. McGaha completed her education at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia and completed her residency in family medicine in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. McGaha also completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. She is a fellow of the AAFP. Dr. McGaha will serve as the joint academic and administrative leader defining clinical operations to expand care, enhancing teaching and training programs vital to ambulatory and acute care medicine in northern Nevada and fostering clinical and translational research and diversity missions. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. McGaha,” said Paul J. Hauptman, MD, dean of UNR Med and chief academic officer for Renown Health. “As our new chair for Family and Community Medicine, she brings to us a wealth of experience, dedication and innovation that will continue to elevate the quality of care we provide to patients and the excellence in education we offer to students. Dr. McGaha has a strong background in academic medicine, distinction in clinical care, medical education, and research, and is universally respected as a compassionate physician leader. Dr. McGaha will do much to advance the mission of our Family Medicine Residency program and expand related Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities, shaping the future of family medicine in northern Nevada and beyond.” “Dr. McGaha will help bolster our commitment to providing exceptional primary care services to our community. With her guidance, we will advance patient-centered care, train the next generation of health care professionals and foster a culture of innovation within our academic health system,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Renown Health. “This is an exciting time for Dr. McGaha to help craft our vision to offer more efficient and affordable care, elevate the patient experience and advance health equity across northern Nevada. We are fortunate to have her joining our team and our community.” Dr. McGaha will spearhead initiatives to enhance clinical outcomes, promote preventative health measures and foster collaboration among health care providers to optimize patient care delivery. In addition, Dr. McGaha will oversee the Family Medicine Residency, a full-scope, fully accredited program at UNR Med. Graduates practice in various settings, both rural and urban, solo family medicine and in large provider groups, traditional outpatient family medicine and as hospitalists or urgent care physicians. Dr. McGaha’s research has explored maternal health equity. She designed a Medical-Financial Collaborative Care Practice Model to address social determinants of health in patients with Type 2 diabetes. She has also presented nationally on diverse topics, such as “Advancing Inclusion and Belonging in Health Science Education” and “Innovating Interprofessional Collaboration in a Primary Care Setting.” An author of 25 academic papers, she has a long history of community service to schools, hospice organizations and neighborhood health clinics. Dr. McGaha has won many awards for her work in medical education, including the AIHC Interprofessional Practice Award, induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society at Creighton University, the AAFP Foundation Pfizer Immunization Grant Award, the Physicians Recognition Award from the American Medical Association, and the Ellen Beck Faculty Award for Medical Staff Outstanding Commitment. The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents, and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national, and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care 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.

Read More About Amy McGaha, MD, MPH, FAAFP Appointed Chair of Family and Community Medicine

Get to know Renown’s new CEO in his letter to employees and care providers. Today marks Dr. Brian Erling’s first day as Renown Health’s President & CEO. Dr. Erling sent the following letter and this video to Renown’s employees and care providers. We are pleased to share it with our community. Hello! Today marks my first day as your Renown Health President and CEO, so I thought I would kick off the occasion with a note. Throughout the interview process, I have been beyond impressed with the passion and purpose demonstrated by all who I have met, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the warm welcome that we have received. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you, but it may take some time to get to all 7000 of you, so I thought I would share some information not included in the initial announcement. A bit about where I come from and what I believe, which informs how I approach leadership. Healthcare has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Minnesota and started my healthcare career as a nursing assistant during high school, and then as a monitor tech during college. After medical school and training, I went on to spend the next dozen years in the ED of a Level I trauma center in west Denver. I met my wife, Jessica, while attending medical school in Baltimore. She was working as a nurse in the surgical ICU and I was smitten. I offered to help her with a 3 am turn and bed linen change for our trauma patient, and the rest was history. We have three kids ages 17-22. I may wear a suit, but first and foremost I am a husband, father, clinician and a caregiver. Over the last 20+ years, I have worked my fair share of nights, weekends, and holidays, and I know the sacrifice you and your families make to care for our community. I will never take it for granted. I have been the sole provider covering a busy night shift, and I know that the trust and collaboration with your immediate team matters more than anything I am putting in this email. In fact, being part of a high performing, mission-driven team is my number one motivation. It’s what gets me up in the morning and why I work in healthcare. I have provided clinical leadership for a large, regional health system and understand that quality, safety, and innovation comes from the people doing the work, not from a corporate office. But you also need strong managers and leaders to facilitate and prioritize the work, and to provide support and inspiration. I view our greatest resource to be our people (each of you). Fancy robots, imaging equipment, etc. are essential, but they are not why our patients choose us. They come for your brand of hometown, trusted care. I am very excited about the new partnership with Renown and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. While still in its infancy, it provides the platform for us to be the center for training, research, and tertiary care for the region (and beyond). Most health systems would love to have their own health plan. The reality is that you cannot meaningfully improve the health of the population without managing value and risk. We are fortunate to have Hometown Health as part of Renown Health, and in our community, and I am excited to work with them to fulfill the mission of the organization. I have worked in for-profit and not-for profit healthcare. Renown is unique in the market as the only nonprofit health system in the market. What that means is that we invest every penny earned back into caring for our community. We don’t send money to shareholders in California or Pennsylvania, we invest it right here in Nevada. That is the kind of organization that I want to work for and where I want my family to get care. Some of you may have noticed that healthcare leaders have an impressively short half-life. I recall not being terribly impressed with one of our hospital leaders early in my career, and one of my senior partners told me to “just wait, he’ll be gone in a year or two.” She was correct. In fact, I had five CEOs in the time I was practicing in Denver. It’s difficult to create and move an organization toward a unified vision when your leader changes every few years. As my track record will support, this is not my style. I have been in Colorado for over twenty years and now look forward to making Reno and Renown my home for years to come. We are in an unprecedented time in healthcare, as all U.S. health systems are experiencing skyrocketing expenses and insufficient revenue growth. Renown is not immune to these pressures, but we are well positioned in the market to weather the storm. By focusing on continuous clinical and operational improvement, Renown will continue to set the gold standard for community health system performance. I appreciate you taking the time to read this message. I look forward to meeting with and learning from all of you. When you see me in the hallway or out and about, please come up and say hello. The work we do is hard, but I try to make it fun when I can, and I definitely like to play hard outside of work. I have been snowboarding the Rockies for the last 20 years and am excited to ride some new trails. When I see you around, let me know if you have some favorite terrain to recommend. Here, at your side, and ready to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT! Brian Erling, MD, MBA President & CEO, Renown Health About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’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 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 New CEO of Renown Health, Dr. Brian Erling, Shares Thoughts With Physicians And Colleagues on His First Day

Healthcare physician CEO with 20 years of experience to lead northern NV’s largest health system on Nov. 14, 2022 Renown Health has selected Brian Erling, MD, MBA, as the health system’s next CEO and president, effective November 14, 2022. Dr. Erling is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience leading teams in diverse healthcare settings, including locally governed, not-for-profit hospitals and integrated health systems; physician practices; publicly traded healthcare companies; and private equity-backed healthcare ventures Dr. Erling is a former healthcare executive with Centura Health in Denver having served since 2016 in positions of increasing and major responsibility, including Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer and most recently as President & CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services which represents the Colorado Springs market for Centura Health and includes Penrose Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital-Interquest slated to open in July 2023. During his tenure, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, responsible for providing clinical leadership to 17 hospitals and 21,000 caregivers. A highly experienced emergency medicine physician, Dr. Erling has long been a leader in quality improvement and is a Baldrige Executive Fellow through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Erling also oversaw a partnership between Penrose-St. Francis Health and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs through the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, a first-of-its-kind facility, designed with intentional collaboration spaces for student and faculty education and research that opened in 2020. Prior to joining Centura Health, Dr. Erling served as President of the Alliance Group, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare. He was also a founding partner of the Apex Emergency Group, PC in Denver and has served as the Denver medical director for American Medical Response. Dr. Erling received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa; his Medical Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado in Denver. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Erling is board certified through the American Board of Emergency Medicine. “Dr. Erling is a collaborative and relational leader who brings a depth of experience to Renown Health and to our community. He is a healthcare executive focused on clinical quality and safety, an approachable servant-leader who inspires others with emotional intelligence and relationship skills; and a seasoned strategist with experience and discipline around healthcare operations, finance, and a proven ability to advance performance,” said Adam Kramer, chair of Renown Health’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Erling has the exceptional leadership skills, experience, background, vision and a commitment to Renown’s mission, values, and culture. We are happy to have Dr. Erling leading Renown Health and know he, his wife Jessica and family will be warmly welcomed to our northern Nevada community.” “I am so excited to be joining Renown Health at this important time. Healthcare and our economy are in the midst of a major transformation, and Renown Health is very well positioned for the future,” Dr. Erling said. “Our ongoing success will hinge on our ability to establish positive and productive relationships, maintain high-quality patient clinical outcomes and experiences, reduce healthcare costs, encourage innovation and improve access and affordability for patients and members.” Dr. Erling will assume the full duties of president and CEO on November 14, 2022. Dr. Thomas Graf, who has served as interim CEO and Sy Johnson MBA, who has served as interim president, will both work with Dr. Erling to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Dr. Graf will continue to serve as Chief Clinical and Quality Officer for Renown Health and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Sy Johnson, MBA, will continue to serve as Chief Operations Officer and Chief of Staff for Renown Health. Dr. Erling and his wife Jessica have three adult children and enjoy making the most of the great outdoors. 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 6,500 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. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.

Read More About Brian Erling, MD, MBA, Named President & CEO Of Renown Health

Experienced physician executive Dr. Thomas Graf named interim Today, the Renown Health Board of Trustees, led by Adam Kramer, announced that Dr. Tony Slonim’s tenure has ended as president and CEO of Renown Health. Thomas R. Graf, M.D., FAAFP will now serve as interim Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Graf will assume the title and authority of CEO in addition to his current role as Chief Clinical and Quality Officer at Renown, and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs for University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Sy Johnson, MBA, Renown’s current Chief Operating Officer has been promoted to interim President and COO. Following the completion of a thorough investigation of concerns raised to the Board of Directors, the Board determined that Renown Health, its patients and staff required new leadership. Accordingly, Dr. Slonim has been terminated with cause as CEO of Renown Health. Mr. Kramer announced the transition today by writing, “a new direction and leadership is needed given the critical work ahead. I have complete faith in Dr. Tom Graf and Sy Johnson, and their senior leadership teams, who already oversee health care system operations, and will help ensure a smooth transition.” Dr. Graf will work in collaboration with Sy Johnson, MBA, interim President and Chief Operations Officer and an experienced team of healthcare executives, to lead Renown to achieve its strategic and operational goals. Kramer added, “For more than 160 years, Renown has provided health care that is affordable, accessible and of the highest quality for our community. This commitment continues as our 7,000 health care heroes continue doing what is most important, and what we do best - caring for our community.” Dr. Graf will continue to fuel Renown’s transformation to a value-based care organization, help advance technologies to enhance the patient experience, and collaborate with providers in Renown Medical Group, acute care hospitals, and through the Western Clinical Alliance clinically integrated network, accountable care organization and affiliation with UNR Med. Graf is a highly accomplished physician executive who has led 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 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. 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 our community.” Sy Johnson has led Renown Health hospital and network operations for almost seven years, most recently as Chief Of Staff / Chief Operating Officer and formerly as Renown’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Renown, Mr. Johnson served as CEO, Senior Vice President and as Chief Financial Officer for Peace Health in Vancouver, Washington, and in senior management with Arthur Andersen & Co and KPMG. 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.

Read More About Renown Health Board Announces CEO Transition

Renown recognized for using advanced technology to improve health and care in the community The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) announced that Renown Health has earned the 2021 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition as a certified Acute Level – 7 and Ambulatory Level - 7. The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply technology to improve health and care in their communities.  Renown Health was the only health care system in Nevada to make this year’s list, ranking alongside other national health leaders including UCLA Health, Scripps, Sharp, Stanford, Geisinger, Johns Hopkins, Yale New Haven and Intermountain Health.  “We are proud of our national reputation as an innovator in implementing new technology and systems of care to improve the health of our patients and the community,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President & CEO. “With our incredible IT team and partners, we are transforming care and demonstrating value in a way that appeals to patients and helps clinicians improve outcomes and reduce costs. Through Renown’s technology, thousands of people a day now choose the physician that’s best for them at renown.org; have an online video visit with their doctor from their laptop; self-schedule a mammogram or refill medications through the MyChart app; book ahead for an Urgent Care visit, and may receive hospital-level clinical monitoring in the comfort of their own homes through the Renown Transfer and Operations Center.” “Digital transformation in healthcare has accelerated to an unprecedented level since 2020, and the next few years will bring a wave of innovation that empowers healthcare consumers and will astound the industry,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “The Digital Health Most Wired program recognizes the outstanding digital leaders who have paved the way for this imminent revolution in healthcare. Renown’s trailblazing commitment to rapid transformation has set an example for the entire industry in how to pursue a leadership vision with determination, brilliant planning and courage to overcome all challenges.”  Speaking on the Wall St. Journal podcast, The Journal on Friday, Dr. Slonim described how Renown Health is one of the first institutions in the nation to provide hospital-at-home technology. Through the new Renown Transfer and Operations Center, physicians, nurses and care coordinators are able to monitor upwards of 1,000 hospitalized and lower acuity patients in their homes, making care more affordable and convenient.  “This state-of-the-art facility helps ensure seamless care for patients and providers across northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California,” said Sy Johnson, Chief of Staff at Renown. “Through this highly coordinated care logistics system, Renown is now able to deliver the right care, at the right time and place across the integrated delivery system. This system is enabling providers to provide care closer to home, in lower-cost ambulatory, outpatient surgical and skilled nursing settings- instead of the hospital, and to deliver a sizeable portion of care to patients- where they want to be- in their homes.” Bernard, a remote-home monitoring patient, provides a Thank You and Congratulations to the Renown team in a video here.  “Our teams are excited to partner with clinicians to adopt technologies that improve the delivery of care, across the entire Renown Health enterprise,” said Chuck Podesta, Chief Information Officer. “We have optimized clinical workflows so that our clinicians receive timely alerts and can quickly respond to patient needs. As a team, we are honored to receive this prestigious award for technology that enables us to provide safer, more effective and more efficient care for patients and our community.” In addition, the Renown website is now one of the most advanced in the country, with over 2.2 million visitors over the past year.  Renown also achieved the highest-ever rating for its use of the Epic electronic medical record system – seven stars.  A total of 36,674 organizations were represented in the 2021 Digital Health Most Wired program. The surveys assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.     About CHIME The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs) and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With nearly 3,400 members in 55 countries and over 150 healthcare IT business partners and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange best practices, address professional development needs and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center was listed #1 in the State of Nevada. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. 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.

Read More About Renown Health Tops 2021 Most Wired List for Digital Innovation, Technology and a Better Patient Experience

Growing numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths are troubling; facemasks can slow the trend. 100 of the nation’s top health care systems, representing thousands of hospitals in communities across the U.S., have come together with an urgent plea for all Americans – mask up, because wearing a facemask is our best chance at slowing the surging COVID-19 pandemic now. More than 11.5 million Americans have tested positive for the virus – including an additional one million in just the past week – leading to nearly 250,000 deaths. The current trends are daunting and frightening. If the nation stays on its current course, hospital leaders are increasingly concerned that more healthcare facilities will be overwhelmed as shortages of healthy caregivers make it difficult to handle a rapidly increasing number of patients. Unfortunately, this is already happening in parts of our country. The next several months will be critical. Though there has been positive news about vaccine development, no one knows when those vaccines will be ready for widespread use. In the meantime, everyone must remain vigilant, take precautions and follow public health orders. The country has reached a tipping point. The power to do what is right is now in the hands of everyone everywhere. Beginning today, a public service message will run in The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Additionally, leading hospitals and health systems across the country will continue to unite to share these messages regionally. The message reads: “As the top nationally-ranked hospitals, we know it’s tough that we all need to do our part and keep wearing masks. But, here’s what we also know: The science has not changed. Masks slow the spread of COVID-19. So, please join us as we all embrace this simple ask: Wear. Care. Share with #MaskUp. Together, wearing is caring. And together, we are saving lives.” In an effort to reach a broader audience, the public service effort will also include messages on digital platforms, social media, online information, links to vital health resources and more.  Combining resources demonstrates that these health organizations are working together, will accomplish this today and will get through this together. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points to recent studies that have shown facemasks successfully limit spread of the COVID-19 virus. Wearing facemasks protect in key ways: by protecting the wearer against inhalation of harmful pathogens and particulates and by preventing exposure of those around the wearer. In addition to masking, the CDC suggests that everyone minimize the number of non-household contacts, maintain a physical distance of at least six feet, and limit the amount of time around others, especially while indoors and in poorly ventilated areas. For further information about masking guidelines – how to choose a mask, how to properly wear a mask – visit the CDC website.     About us: www.everymaskup.com is a collaboration of 100 leading health systems representing thousands of hospitals across the U.S. joining together to create messages for the betterment of communities they serve. The impetus for this, and other public service campaigns to follow, came from a group of health care marketing and communications executives meeting for a decade and reengaged weekly since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The goal is to share knowledge and experience, best practices, strategies and resources - knowing they can accomplish more together. Founded and led by Rhoda Weiss, Ph.D., Los Angeles-based national health care leader and consultant, the expanded coalition is partnering with Cleveland Clinic Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Paul Matsen and his team for this effort. Additionally, hospitals and health systems on a regional basis continue to come together to send messages like these of prevention and safety, hope and healing, life and death, care and caring.Media Contacts:Rhoda WeissM: 310-945-6730E: rhoda@rhodaweiss.comAngie KiskaM: 216-312-9170E: kiskaa@ccf.org     The following hospitals and health systems to spread this message across the country.   AdventHealth Nemours Children's Health System Adventist Health NewYork-Presbyterian Allegheny Health Network Northwell Health Atrium Health  Northwestern Medicine Avera Health Norton Healthcare Banner Health Ochsner Health Baptist Health Northeast Florida OhioHealth  Baylor Scott & White Health Oregon Health & Science University BJC HealthCare OSF HealthCare Bon Secours Mercy Health OU Health  Boston Children's Hospital  PeaceHealth Cedars-Sinai  Penn Medicine  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Penn State Health Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Providence  Children's Hospital of Orange County Renown Health Children's National Hospital  Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center ChristianaCare Rush University System for Health Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center RWJ Barnabas Health City of Hope Saint Luke's Health System (Kansas City, MO) Cleveland Clinic SCL Health CommonSpirit Health Scripps Health Community Health Systems Sharp HealthCare Cooper University Health Care Southwestern Health Resources Dana-Farber Cancer Institute SSM Health Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health  St. Elizabeth Healthcare Duke Health  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  Emory Healthcare St. Luke's Hospital (St. Louis)  Geisinger Stanford Health Care Hackensack Meridian Health Sutter Health HCA Healthcare Temple Health  Inspira Health Texas Health Resources Intermountain Healthcare The Christ Hospital Health Network Jefferson Health The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Johns Hopkins Medicine The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Kaiser Permanente ThedaCare Keck Medicine of USC TriHealth (Cincinnati) LifePoint Health Trinity Health  Mass General Brigham UC Davis Health Mayo Clinic UCHealth MedStar Health UC Health CINCINNATI Memorial Hermann UC San Diego Health  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center UChicago Medicine  MemorialCare (Southern California) UCI Health Mercy UCLA Health Michigan Medicine UCSF Health Mount Sinai Health System UNC Health National Jewish Health  University of California Health Nationwide Children's Hospital University Hospitals (Cleveland) Nebraska Medicine University of Iowa Health Care    Virtua Health

Read More About Renown and Thousands of Top U.S. Hospitals Encourage Everyone to #MaskUp

Debra Adornetto-Garcia, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, AOCN, joins as chief nursing officer, acute services to serve future generations and improve the health and well-being of Nevadans. Renown Health is excited to announce Debra Adornetto-Garcia, DNP, RN, is joining Renown Health as its chief nursing officer (CNO) for acute hospital services. In her role as CNO, acute services, Dr. Adornetto-Garcia will lead acute care hospital nursing and collaborate with leadership in designing patient care and services that ensure excellent care for patients and families.  “We are pleased to welcome such an experienced and talented leader like Dr. Debra Adornetto-Garcia to our organization and to northern Nevada,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, president and CEO, Renown Health. “As chief nursing officer for acute services, Debra will continue to foster a culture of caring and excellence, while ensuring the highest level of nursing practice and experience for our registered nurses and hospital patients.  Says Dawn D. Ahner, DSc, FACHE, chief operating officer, acute services, “Debra is a dynamic, collaborative, innovative senior executive with academic, community, ambulatory and acute hospital experience. Dr. Adornetto-Garcia has been an influential change agent in leading teams to create innovative delivery models and elevate nursing practice through shared accountability.”  Debra comes to Renown from CHRISTUS Health in Corpus Christi, Texas where she has served as their CNO. She has also held senior nursing roles with Banner Health & Banner MD Anderson in Ariz., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. She began her career as an oncology nurse with experience in radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve the nursing community and patients of Renown Health in Nevada,” said Dr. Adornetto-Garcia. “How exciting to be able to deliver the high-quality, compassionate patient care Renown is known for, and to help serve and lead in the hospital nursing profession.” Debra has a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, a Master of Adult Health Nursing (Clinical Nurse Specialist/Oncology specialty) and a BSN from Northern Illinois University.  Former chief nursing officer for acute hospital services, Dr. Jennifer Richards, retired from Renown after 21 years of nursing service. Renown Health hospitals include Renown Regional Medical Center, Renown South Meadows Medical Center, Renown Children’s Hospital and Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown South Meadows Medical Center was listed #1 in the State of Nevada (tied with Carson Tahoe Medical Center). Renown Regional Medical Center was named #2 Best Hospital in Nevada.  Renown has also earned the highest award from American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Beacon Award for Excellence for its Intensive Care Units (ICUs) based on performance and patient outcomes that exceed national benchmarks. Renown has the only intensive care units awarded this distinction in Nevada. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and 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’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. 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.

Read More About Renown Health Welcomes New Chief Nursing Officer

Adam D. Porath, Pharm.D., BCACP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology is promoted to serve future generations and improve the health and well-being of Nevadans. Renown Health is excited to announce Dr. Adam Porath has been promoted to vice president, pharmacy to lead clinical pharmacy and pharmacy operations and ensure excellent care for patients and families.  “We are pleased to promote an experienced and talented leader like Dr. Adam Porath,” said Dawn D Ahner, DSc, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer, Acute Services. “Adam will continue to foster a culture of caring and excellence, while ensuring the highest level of pharmacy practice and experience for both care providers and patients.”  Dr. Porath has served in roles within pharmacy at Renown since 2006. Since June 2020, he has served as Interim Director of Pharmacy where he has led strategic planning for pharmacy operations, precepted students and residents, identified business growth opportunities, developed novel clinical pharmacy services and oversaw quality assurance of pharmacy operations. He began his career as a pharmacy practice resident at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.  “I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve the medical community and patients of Renown Health,” said Dr. Porath. “What a source of pride it is to be able to deliver the high-quality, compassionate patient care Renown is known for, and to help serve and lead in the pharmacy profession.” Dr. Porath received his doctor of pharmacy degree from Idaho State University. He is a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist with added qualifications in cardiology and board certified ambulatory care pharmacist. Dr. Porath has a BS in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno.  Dr. Porath serves as adjunct clinical faculty for several colleges of pharmacy including the University of New England, Oregon State University, University of New Mexico, Idaho State University and University of Wyoming. He has been published in several peer-reviewed journals including CHEST, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and the Canadian Medical Association Journal.  Here in Nevada, Dr. Porath successfully lobbied the Nevada Legislature on behalf of the Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists (NVSHP) to pass Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) legislation in 2011, permitting Nevada pharmacists to adjust drug therapy per physician-signed protocol in any practice setting, as long as the pharmacist is under a physician’s direct supervision. Currently, 48 states permit some degree of CDTM. In 2017, Adam helped to pass further expansion of the pharmacy practice act. He is currently serving as a director at large of the NVSHP board. Dr. Porath has served as a state of Nevada delegate to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) House of Delegates since 2012. In 2018, Dr. Porath was appointed to the Nevada Attorney General’s statewide partnership on the opioid crisis. In 2019, he was appointed to the ASHP Council on Public Policy.  In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital rankings, Renown South Meadows Medical Center was listed #1 in the State of Nevada. Renown Regional Medical Center was named #2 Best Hospital in Nevada. 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.  About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and 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’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. 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.

Read More About Renown Health Welcomes New Vice President, Pharmacy

David Hansen, MBA, joins Hometown Health to continue to serve future generations and improve the health and well-being of Nevadans Renown Health and Hometown Health are excited to announce David Hansen, MBA, is joining Hometown Health as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In his role as CEO, Hansen will oversee Hometown Health, contributing to its growth to ensure the not-for-profit company is here for generations to come and to assist Renown in developing new care models that will deliver healthcare that is both accessible and affordable. “We are pleased to welcome such an experienced and talented leader like David to our organization and to northern Nevada,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., President and CEO, Renown Health. “As CEO of Hometown Health, David will continue to foster a culture of caring and excellence, while ensuring wide-ranging medical coverage and great customer service to Hometown Health’s more than 138,000 members statewide.” Hansen has spent the previous twenty years of his career working for UnitedHealthcare, a health insurance company based out of Minnetonka, Minnesota. During his time at UnitedHealthcare, Hansen held various roles including chief financial officer of clinical & network services, west region president of network & provider services, chief executive officer of the California Health Plan and chief executive officer of the Pacific Northwest Health Plan. He has also served in executive roles with PacifiCare and TransAmerica Occidental Life and began his career in the audit and management consulting practice of Deloitte & Touche. “Choosing healthcare coverage is one of the most important decisions people make. I am excited to begin my work with Hometown Health and Renown to help our members receive the quality coverage to enhance their health and well-being,” said Hansen. “Hometown Health is such a community-focused organization and I look forward to being a part of a team that gives back to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. ”David has an MBA in Finance and Business Policy from the University of Chicago, and a BA in Economics and Business from the University of California, Los Angeles.     About Hometown Health Established in 1988, Hometown Health is the insurance division of Renown Health and is Northern Nevada’s largest locally-owned, not-for-profit health insurance company. Providing wide-ranging medical coverage and great service to members, Hometown Health represents a philosophy of health care that emphasizes active partnerships between members and physicians. For more information, call 775-982-3000 or visit www.hometownhealth.com. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and 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’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. 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.

Read More About Locally Owned Not-For-Profit Insurance Company, Hometown Health, Welcomes New CEO

Suzanne Hendery, MA, APR of Renown Health selected as 2020 Medigy HITMC Award Winner. Every year, the Healthcare and IT Marketing Community (HITMC) honors the individuals and organizations who distinguished themselves over the past year. Nominations for the Awards are reviewed by a selection committee made up of industry veterans and only three are chosen as Honorees in each category. A panel of judges then evaluates the Honorees and a winner is chosen. Suzanne Hendery, Chief Marketing, Public Affairs & Community Impact Officer for Renown Health has been selected as the 2020 ‘Marketing Person of the Year.” “Suzanne Hendery of Renown Health is a deserving winner of a 2020 Medigy HITMC Award” said John Lynn, Chief Editor and Founder at Healthcare Scene, the company behind HITMC. “Together, the 2020 Award Winners are a shining example of the best in healthcare marketing. It is truly inspiring to see what happens when bright, passionate people work together.” The 2020 Medigy HITMC Awards are a celebration of outstanding achievement in marketing, PR and communications for healthcare and Health IT. It is a chance for the Healthcare and IT Marketing Community (HITMC) to come together and acknowledge the hard work and efforts of individuals, Health IT companies, healthcare providers and agencies. “We at Renown Health are so proud of Suzanne and the entire Marketing & Communications team. They tell the stories of our health care heroes, engage with our community, and use communications to encourage people to improve their health and well-being,” said Tony Slonim, MD, DrPH, president and CEO of Renown Health. Ms. Hendery says, “Being able to distill the essence of our organization down to 2 words- ‘hope’ and ‘determination’-is something that brings me such pride. I feel honored – and humbled – that Jim DeVolld and Rob Winkel of the Renown Board of Trustees; Dr. Tony Slonim, our CEO; and our lead physicians, nurses, team members and partners, all came together with our community to build the “Fight the Good Fight” campaign. This work gives us all the inspirational message of hope and determination during such an important time in our history.” Suzanne Hendery is the Chief Marketing, Communications & Community Impact Officer for Renown Health in Reno. Ms. Hendery earned her MA from the University of Connecticut, is a lecturer at Harvard University, a member of the American Marketing Association Health Care Executive Board, a member of the Public Relations Society of America, and serves on the Board of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.     About The HITMC Awards HITMC is a community – bound together by a passion for and a love of PR, communications and marketing in healthcare and Health IT. The central idea behind HITMC is to bring together all the smart, innovative and hard- working healthcare professionals so that we can learn from each other. We enable this by creating a culture where sharing, mutual respect and lifting each other up is the norm. The annual HITMC Awards are an embodiment of this ethos. They are meant to celebrate the best individuals and organizations who have elevated healthcare marketing, PR and communications in the past year. For more information, visit www.hitmc.com/awards   About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and 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’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. 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.

Read More About Reno Home to Marketing Person of the Year

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

Three Los Angeles teens rallied their high school classmates to raise funds and donate more than 1,300 face masks for Renown Health employees.  While many teens reflected on missed milestones like prom and graduation that didn’t happen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, three high school seniors from Los Angeles felt inspired to make a difference. Friends Jessica Gestetner, Amanda Rosenthal and Katherine Konvitz organized a fundraising campaign with their classmates and purchased over 1,300 face masks for staff at Renown Health.  “My friends and I wanted to help our doctors and nurses because they are out saving lives while we are all fortunate enough to remain at home and healthy,” said Gestetner “We raised over $3,500 and spent it buying KN-95 masks for the heroes at Renown. This was our way of thanking all the healthcare workers for their selfless service.”  Why did these LA teens choose Renown Health for this donation? Katherine Konvitz has a family friend who works at Renown, which is how the teens first learned about the organization’s call for community support to gather face masks and other personal protective equipment. Thanks to this significant donation, Renown exceeded its goal of securing 10,000 community-donated face masks to benefit employees working on the frontline to help keep the community safe.   “I can only imagine how difficult these times are for our youth, as they’re unable to go to school, spend time with their friends and experience all the  activities that are seen as a rite of passage to many,” said Tony Slonim, MD, D.Ph., president and CEO of Renown Health. “I applaud the incredible act of kindness displayed by Jessica, Amanda and Katherine to give back to our staff, despite the challenging circumstances. We are extremely fortunate to have the generosity and support of northern Nevadans and people across the country as we work to improve the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.”   Aside from their face mask contribution, Ms. Gestetner, Rosenthal and Konvitz also made a financial donation to Renown’s Healthcare Workers Greatest Needs fund, where donations are directed to address the highest needs our healthcare teams are currently facing as they continue to screen, diagnose and care for patients with respiratory illness, including COVID-19. For others interested in making a tax-deductible donation of Personal Protective Equipment, Meals, Financial Donations or Thank You notes, you can go to renown.org/donations-covid-19/ or contact Renown Health Foundation, 245 E Liberty St #400, Reno, NV 89501. Phone: (775) 982-5545  Renown continues to welcome donations of masks, gowns and surgical caps and appreciates the support of our community. Donations are accepted through the main entrance at the Tahoe Tower of Renown Regional Medical Center. Please let the security staff know you are dropping off donations for the mask donation drive and these items will be marked accordingly. All handcrafted masks, gowns and surgical caps are laundered and sanitized before distribution to appropriate areas.    In addition to the personal protective equipment Renown has received during these unprecedented times, people have thanked care providers through hundreds of notes and cards, as well as numerous generous meal donations for frontline staff. These donations have a tremendous impact on Renown’s ability to continue to provide quality care in northern Nevada despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.        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, Renown Children’s Hospital, Renown 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 Coming Together to Make a Difference: Teens Donate Over 1,300 Face Masks to Healthcare Heros