Duke University Health System is adding one more member to its senior staff.
Dr. Monte Brown will fill the new positions of vice president of administration for DUHS and associate dean of veterans affairs for Duke's School of Medicine, Dr. Victor Dzau, chancellor for health affairs and president and CEO of Duke University Health System, announced April 26.
In his two new posts, Brown will tackle a range of responsibilities for DUHS including addressing the health system's parking needs, occupational safety and crisis management, architecture, facilities and the implementation of the health system's strategic plan.
DUHS consists of Duke University Hospital, Duke Health Raleigh, Durham Regional Hospital and various clinics and care centers throughout North Carolina and southern Virginia.
Citing Brown's past successes, Dzau said he expects Brown to make vital contributions to improve the health system as well,
Dzau noted Brown's work of developing technologies for his previous hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, such as hand-held devices, using the web to facilitate access to clinic appointments and utilizing wireless technology to improve the quality of patient care.
"Given his track record of leadership in large health systems, we're certain he'll make important contributions in making our health system more efficient and patient-centric," Dzau said in a statement.
Dr. Mike Cuffe, vice president for medical affairs, said DUHS is always working toward improvement.
"Our overall goal is very ambitious," Cuffe said, noting that there are many different aspects of quality the health system must provide. "It seems almost every week we have a new initiative."
In addition to serving as the vice chair of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, located in Boston, Brown also spent eight years on the faculty at Harvard Medical School after completing training in internal medicine and cardiology at Stanford University.
Brown came to Duke seven months ago, serving as chief operating officer of the Private Diagnostic Clinic and as the DUHS and medical school representative to the Durham Veterans Administration MedicCenter.
"I am excited about joining the leadership team that is helping Dr. Dzau achieve his vision for the Duke Health System," Brown said in a statement.
"Duke is in a great position to really make a difference in American health care, and I feel fortunate to be given an opportunity to play a role in that change."
Dzau has made several major appointments since he took charge of DUHS in July 2004.
A majority of his top appointments have been women.
Dzau said these appointments were part of a conscious choice to diversify his senior administration.
"It is not only the quality of people, but the message you're giving people in what you're looking for," he said.
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