ATRIUS HEALTH APPOINTS DR. RICK LOPEZ CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE

Newton, MA (April 13, 2009) – Atrius Health, an alliance of five nonprofit multi-specialty medical groups with practice sites throughout eastern Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that Dr. Richard Lopez has been appointed to the newly created position of chief physician executive.

“Rick is greatly respected by everyone who has worked with him across the Atrius Health medical groups,” said Dr. Gene Lindsey, president and CEO of Atrius Health and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. “I am confident that under his leadership in this new role, we will continue to enhance the quality of care we provide and develop clinical programs that will make it easier for our patients to be healthy.”

As chief physician executive for Atrius Health, Dr. Lopez will collaborate closely with the medical directors and chief executive officers of the five Atrius Health medical groups across a broad range of clinical and quality initiatives. His areas of responsibility will include clinical program and regional project development, clinical informatics, medical management, and safety and quality. He will co-chair the medical executive committee and serve as an ex-officio member of the Atrius Health Board of Trustees. Dr. Lopez will also continue to care for patients at Harvard Vanguard’s internal medicine practice in Medford.

A practicing internist for more than 27 years, he has served in a number of roles for Harvard Vanguard including vice president of clinical programs, deputy medical director, and internal medicine chief. He was instrumental in the successful roll-out of the electronic medical record across the practice, the development of a central outreach program for patients, and many other important clinical and medical management initiatives. For his many contributions to the practice, Dr. Lopez received the Harvard Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. On behalf of Atrius Health, Dr. Lopez previously served as interim chief medical officer from 2005 to 2007.

Dr. Lopez received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, and completed his residency and internship at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. He is a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and is a member of the American College of Physicians, American College of Physician Executives and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He currently serves on the Neighborhood Health Plan Patient Care Assessment Committee, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Medical Staff Credentialing Committee, the Massachusetts Medical Society Task Force on Medical Cost Control, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Physician Advisory Committee.

Back to Atrius Health News