VCU news

By Laura Rossacher

After a national search, Tom Yackel, M.D., has been appointed president of MCV Physicians, the faculty practice plan of VCU Health. He also will serve as senior associate dean for clinical affairs in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Most recently, Yackel served as vice president and chief clinical integration officer for Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, as well as associate dean for the clinical practice in the School of Medicine.

“Dr. Yackel’s recruitment is the result of a highly competitive national search,” said Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health System and vice president of health sciences. “He is the first-ever external recruitment to this position, and he follows in the steps of physicians who have come up through the ranks and done exceptional jobs leading MCVP.”

“Dr. Yackel’s long tenure at Oregon and the breadth of his experience in several leadership positions contributed to an exceptionally well-run health system and have well-equipped him for this role,” said Deborah Davis, CEO of VCU Hospitals and Clinics, VCU Health System, and vice president for clinical services at VCU.

Yackel received both a medical degree and a Master of Public Health focusing on health care administration and management in 1996 from George Washington University. He continued his training as a primary care internal medicine resident at GW and served as chief resident. In 2002, he completed a fellowship and Master of Science in medical informatics at OHSU. He is a practicing primary care internist and is board certified in internal medicine and clinical informatics. In June, he will graduate from the OHSU Healthcare MBA program.

Yackel succeeds John Ward, M.D., who served as president of MCVP for two four-year terms. Ward will remain a clinical faculty member and will maintain an active practice in neurosurgery.