Leadership of ACHP Medical Director’s Committee

For the past two years, Mike Culyba, MD, of the UPMC Health Plan has served as the Chair of the ACHP Medical Director’s Committee. In that time period, the group has focused on clinical and delivery system redesign strategies that simultaneously improve quality and the overall affordability of health care. In 2010, the group added leading and partnering in the creation of Community Systems of Care to its already full agenda.  During his tenure Dr. Culyba has effectively led the Medical Directors to a greater focus on accomplishing the Triple Aim in our health plans and communities.

Chairing ACHP’s Medical Directors is not a small commitment, either in time or intensity.  For that reason, our expectation at ACHP is that this role is a two-year commitment. Dr. Culyba will reach the end of this commitment at the end of 2010.   As we head into 2011, he will be handing of the reigns of Chair to Dr. Bruce Nash, Chief Medical Officer of Capital District Physicians Health Plan. 

Dr. Nash will partner with Lynne Cuppernull, ACHP’s Director of Clinical Learning & Innovation, to set direction, monitor progress, and provide regular updates to the ACHP Board of Directors.  This leadership team will also include Brenda Bruns, MD, Executive Medical Director at Group Health Cooperative. Dr. Bruns will serve in the role as Vice Chair of the Medical Directors, replacing Dr. Russ Kuzel, who has also dedicated two years of service in the role of Vice Chair.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nash and Dr. Bruns to their new roles. They will be working with Lynne and Dr. Culyba through the fall to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

We cannot thank Mike Culyba enough for the energy, effort and strategic thinking he has brought to the leadership of the Medical Director’s Committee.  We would also like to thank Russ Kuzel for his counsel and support in the work of the committee.  And while they may be stepping down from their official leadership roles of the Medical Director’s committee, we know we can continue to count on their active participation within the group.