David Entwistle to assume leadership of the Intermountain region's only academic health system in February.
University of Utah Senior Vice President for Health Sciences A. Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D., today announced David Entwistle as the new chief executive officer of University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics. Entwistle is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics.
"David is an experienced hospital administrator and widely recognized as a rising national talent in the health-care industry. His decision to come to Utah speaks to the high caliber of the University's growing clinical enterprise," said Betz, who also serves as CEO of University Health Care and executive dean of the University's medical school.
Entwistle is coming to the hospitals and clinics at a critical time, according to University President Michael K. Young. "David understands the unique challenges of academic medicine and I'm confident he'll provide the vision and leadership for our continued success," said Young.
At the University of Wisconsin, Entwistle is responsible for a $565 million budget and oversees a variety of areas, including nursing and patient care services, a children's hospital, heart and vascular care services, transplant programs, and a cancer care service line. He also developed and led a number of successful initiatives that included construction of a new children's hospital and projects to expand access to services, improve efficiencies, and increase patient and employee satisfaction.
"Academic health systems are uniquely positioned around the country to provide leading-edge technology and care to patients. University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics is no exception," said Entwistle. "I'm pleased to be joining such a prestigious health system recognized nationally for its passion for excellence and quality of patient care. I look forward to building on the legacy of past leaders as we move the organization forward in new ways to serve our patients and the community."
According to Donna K. Sollenberger, president and chief executive officer of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, "David has provided exceptional leadership and championed positive change for patients and employees in the six years he has been at the University of Wisconsin. He is a role model for compassionate and thoughtful leadership. While we wish him well, we will sincerely miss his leadership."
Prior to his experience at the University of Wisconsin, Entwistle served in administrative roles at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif. and completed an administrative fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and received a master's degree in health services administration from Arizona State University.
Entwistle replaces Richard A. Fullmer who died earlier this year. Gordon Crabtree, who has served as interim CEO since that time, will return to his previous role as chief financial officer, according to Betz. Entwistle will begin his duties in February.
About University of Utah Health Care and University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics
University Health Care is the only academic health care system in the Intermountain West. As part of that system, University Hospitals & Clinics offer services in more than 120 specialties and is consistently ranked as one of the country's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The system provides care for Utahns and residents of five surrounding states in a referral area encompassing more than 10 percent of the continental United States. The hospitals and clinics see more than 900,000 outpatient visits and over 23,000 inpatient admissions each year. Its academic partners at the University of Utah School of Medicine and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health are internationally regarded research and teaching institutions.