Catholic Health Initiatives Names T. Clifford Deveny, M.D., to New Position Overseeing Physician Practice Management

T. Clifford Deveny, M.D., has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president, physician practice management, at Catholic Health Initiatives, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system.

Dr. Deveny, a longtime physician executive, will provide leadership and direction as CHI continues to build its employed physician enterprise, expanding the scope and number of practices across its national system of 73 hospitals and other health care facilities in 19 states.

The number of employed physicians at CHI has nearly doubled in the last two years, to approximately 1,500, and that figure is expected to rise to more than 3,000 in the next two to three years. The appointment of physician executives to key senior roles focused on employed physicians is a growing trend among large health systems.

“At CHI, we are concentrating more than ever before on coordinated care and the management of population health – and that means an even closer relationship with physicians,” said Michael Rowan, CHI’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Dr. Deveny will be instrumental in our efforts to grow our base of employed physicians and improve the way we provide care to the communities we serve.”

Dr. Deveny, who joins Englewood, Colo.-based CHI on May 2, is currently system vice president, physician alignment and president of Summa Physicians Inc. for Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio, a nonprofit that includes seven acute care hospitals, a network of outpatient and primary care clinics and a health care plan. In that role, he oversees the operations of Summa Physicians, Inc., a nonprofit, multi-specialty physician group, managing more than a $140 million budget. He also oversees four physician/hospital joint ventures, which include two hospitals and two ambulatory surgery centers.

“I’m looking forward to helping build a strong and vibrant physician enterprise at CHI, which is one of the most highly respected health systems in this country,” said Dr. Deveny, who is 50.

Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Deveny is an experienced physician and health administrator with a proven track record in dealing with large, complex medical groups. Prior to his appointment to his current position at Summa, he served as the system’s vice president for clinical services and service lines.

Dr. Deveny earned his medical degree from the University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from Denison University, Granville, Ohio, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

About Catholic Health Initiatives: CHI is a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Denver. The faith-based system operates in 19 states and includes 73 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; two community health-services organizations; and home health agencies. In fiscal year 2010, CHI provided almost $590 million in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With annual revenues of approximately $9 billion, CHI is the nation's third-largest Catholic health care system.