David Blumenthal, M.D., to Chair Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System
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<a href="/press-release/2011/david-blumenthal-md-chair-commonwealth-fund-commission-high-performance-health">David Blumenthal, M.D.,</a> former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (IT) and a recognized health policy expert with extensive leadership experience in medicine, government, and academia, has been named Chairman of the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System.</p>
<p>Dr. Blumenthal is currently Samuel O. Thier Professor of Medicine and Professor of Health Care Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School. He succeeds James J. Mongan, M.D., founding chairman of the Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System, who passed away on May 3, 2011. </p>
<p>Dr. Blumenthal was chosen by President Obama to serve as National Coordinator in 2009, with the charge to build an interoperable, private, and secure nationwide health information system and to support the widespread, meaningful use of health IT. He succeeded in putting in place one of the largest publicly funded infrastructure investments the nation has ever made in such a short period, in health care or any other field. </p>
<p>"We are very fortunate to have Dr. Blumenthal as chairman of the Commission during this critical period of implementation of the Affordable Care Act," said James R. Tallon, Jr., Chairman of The Commonwealth Fund. "The Commission will be well served by his deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face as we move the U.S. toward a high performing health care system that will help set our nation on the path to a sound economic future." </p>
<p>The Commission's 17 members are a distinguished group of experts and leaders representing every sector of health care, as well as the state and federal policy arena, the business sector, professional societies, and academia. <br></p>