Next ONC Chief Could be in Plain Sight

The announcement Aug. 6 that Farzad Mostashari, MD, would be stepping down from his job as national coordinator for health information technology this fall led much praise about his passion for the work, and his many achievements.

However, no one who spoke with Healthcare IT News was willing to offer names of potential candidates to fill what many say are extraordinarily big shoes.

Bill Spooner, vice president and chief information officer of Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, said he couldn't immediately suggest a successor, but did offer that, "I would like to see someone from community healthcare, where adoption and patient engagement are still challenging, lead ONC."

Russ Branzell, CEO of CHIME, which represents more than 1,400 CIOs, said little more on the matter of a successor. He and the CHIME membership, he said, hope the next ONC chief would be able to build on Mostashari’s legacy. Branzell said he would like to see someone who has worked in the trenches, as Mostashari had in New York City, as a doctor, nurse or CIO.

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Source: Health IT News