Desert Care Network announces new chief medical officer
Desert Care Network announced Wednesday that Dr. William W. Brien has been appointed chief medical officer for the three area hospitals and outpatient clinics operated by Tenet Healthcare.
In his new role, Brien will work to advance clinical services and quality improvement initiatives with the physicians at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree.
Who had the role previously?
He succeeds Dr. David Sperling, who died in August 2021. In the interim, Tenet’s chief medical officer and other physician leaders have been handling responsibilities.
"Dr. Brien brings a wealth of experience to Desert Care Network, and we are so pleased to have him join us," CEO for Desert Care Network and Desert Regional Medical Center Michele Finney said in a statement. "He is an expert in clinical quality and hospital operations who has served at well-known academic medical centers across the country. We look forward to his leadership as we grow the clinical programs our desert communities need to remain healthy and thriving."
What experience does he have?
Brien is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated medical school at UCLA School of Medicine and completed a residency at University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he became a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery and vice-chief of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He spent more than a decade in clinical leadership positions at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, including founding the Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center.
Prior to coming to the desert, Brien was the chief medical officer and chief quality officer for University Hospitals of Cleveland, which has consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. He also served as senior vice president operations and chief clinical officer for Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston.
"Desert Care Network hospitals offer critical healthcare services to the desert communities – including a network of three trauma centers, three stroke-ready hospitals, and a host of other key programs," Brien said in a statement. "I’m very excited to return to California and work with the dedicated physicians and clinical providers to grow and improve our services, which save lives each and every day."
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Desert Care Network names new chief medical officer
