SelectHealth names new Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Patricia Richards, President and CEO, SelectHealth

01/28/2016

After an extensive search and series of interviews with qualified candidates, SelectHealth is pleased to announce that Russ Kuzel, MD, has been named as the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of SelectHealth. In this role, Dr. Kuzel will be responsible for SelectHealth clinical operations and services, and will serve as a member of the SelectHealth Executive Team. He succeeds Dr. Stephen Barlow, who began his new role as Population Health Medical Director for Intermountain Healthcare in September, 2015.

Dr. Kuzel most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of UCare, a $3.5 billion health plan located in Minneapolis, MN where he was responsible for leading clinical strategy and services.  UCare provided health insurance products and services designed for Medicare, Medicaid, and dual-eligible populations, as well as insurance exchange products for individuals and families.

Dr. Kuzel previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Security Health Plan owned by the Marshfield Clinic located in Marshfield, WI, where he was responsible for policy, planning, program development, and organizational strategies with providers and the health plan. In addition to his clinical leadership in not-for-profit health plans, Dr. Kuzel has also had significant clinical experience and demonstrated success in large multi-specialty provider organizations, including the Dakota Clinic where he led a group of 175 multi-specialty providers in his role as president and chair of the board of directors. 

Dr. Kuzel is a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he also completed his residency in family practice. He earned a Master of Medical Management from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in 2008, was recognized for Academic Achievement in Medical Management by the  American College of Physician Executives in 2005, and attended the Physician Leadership College at University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis from 2002-2004.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Kuzel as he begins his new role at SelectHealth in March 2016.

Also join us in thanking Dr. Barlow for his support during the search process, and in extending appreciation to SelectHealth Medical Directors Dr. Ken Schaecher and Dr. Dot Verbrugge for their willingness to take on additional responsibilities during the search process and transition.