VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System board of directors today appointed Dr. Richard P. Wenzel as president of the MCV Physicians, the physician practice plan of more than 600 physicians who are faculty of VCU’s School of Medicine and serve as the medical staff for MCV Hospitals.

The appointment of a practice plan president is part of an aggressive effort to make operational and fiscal improvements throughout the VCU Health System.

Wenzel, 62, will be responsible for the overall direction and performance of MCV Physicians.  He has been chair of the department of internal medicine at VCU since 1995.  He is a renowned authority on infectious diseases and is the first editor-at-large of the New England Journal of Medicine.

At VCU, Wenzel developed the first division of quality health care in academic medicine and formed a broader leadership structure for the department of internal medicine.  “Dr. Wenzel’s leadership and initiative will be invaluable in building a true, multi-specialty group practice as an important component of the VCU Health System,” said Dr. Eugene Trani, VCU president and president and chair of the VCU Health System board of directors.

“The immediate goal is to enhance the ability of clinical practices to accomplish our three missions – clinical care, research and education.” Wenzel said.  “There’s a lot of enthusiasm among the medical school department chairs and physicians to develop an organizational structure that fosters the overall success of the clinical practices.

Wenzel holds a medical degree from Jefferson Medical School and a master of science degree from the University of London.  He completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of Maryland.

In another organizational change, the VCUHS board voted to restructure the current MCV Physicians board of directors into an executive board, responsible for the governance of the faculty practice plan.

Eight members from the VCU School of Medicine – four department chairs and four members at large -- were appointed to the new MCV Physicians executive board:  Dr. Joel Silverman, psychiatry chair; Dr. Joseph Laver, pediatrics chair; Dr. John Seeds, obstetrics and gynecology chair; Dr. David Cifu, physical medicine and rehabilitation chair; Dr. George Vetrovec, chair, cardiology division of the department of internal medicine; Dr. Mary Nettleman, associate dean, primary care; Dr. John Ward, executive vice chair, neurosurgery; and Dr. James Levenson, psychiatry vice chair.

“I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Wenzel and the new MCV Physicians executive board in carrying out our plans to improve the health system’s operational and financial performance,” said Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU Health System senior executive vice president and chief operating officer.

All appointments are effective immediately.