On January 3, 2024, interim dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Sam Finlayson, MD announced the appointment of John Barrett, MD as the interim Chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine.
Below are the comments sent to DFPM faculty and staff by Dr. Finlayson on January 3, 2024:
Colleagues:
John Barrett, MD, has been appointed interim Chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine (DFPM) for University of Utah Health, effective January 16, 2024 while we perform a national search. John succeeds Kola Okuyemi, MD, PHD, who accepted the role of Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Health Equity Research and Implementation at Indiana University School of Medicine. Kola will be leaving U of U Health on January 31, 2024.
John has been with U of U Health since 2013 and has served as the Executive Medical Director of the Community Physician Group since 2018. He will remain in that position with the physician group while serving in this interim role. Under his leadership, the physician group has grown to provide care for around 500,000 patients annually. He led the opening of urgent care clinics across nine community health centers, collaborated with system leaders to launch virtual primary and urgent care platforms, and led initial Project CORE (Coordinating Optimal Referral Experiences) efforts with the AAMC to improve system-wide communications between primary care and specialty care via enhanced referrals and eConsults.
As interim Chair, John will be responsible for managing the affairs and core administrative responsibilities of DFPM, along with leading efforts to expand training programs, market presence, and clinical revenue of the department. As both Executive Medical Director of CPG and interim Chair of DFPM, he is charged with overseeing the integration and alignment of family medicine practice at U of U Health. He will also collaborate across the system with the health sciences leadership team to build out strategic plans for the department, advance the transformation to an integrated and value-driven organization, and increase population-medicine relevant research.
During his time in the role of Chair of DFPM, Kola Okuyemi led the department to exceptional accomplishments in critical mission domains, attaining an unprecedented #2 ranking nationally in NIH funding, increasing annual research revenues 300%, and growing clinical revenue by 50%. Through a generous donation from Don and Kathy Pederson, the department established an Endowed Chair within the Division of Physician Assistant Studies—one of the first in the nation. The Utah Physician Assistant Program is currently ranked #8 by U.S. News & World Report (#4 among public institutions). Kola also led the department to develop new interdisciplinary degree programs, including joint Master of Physician Assistant Studies/Master of Public Health (MPAS/MPH) and MPAS/Master of Science in Nursing Gerontology (MPAS/MS) programs.
Below is an advanced copy of an announcement that will post publicly today. Please join me in supporting John as he takes on this role and in thanking Kola for his years of service.
Sincerely,
Sam, etc.
***
PRESS RELEASE
John Barrett, MD, appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine for University of Utah Health
John Barrett, MD, has been appointed interim Chair of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine (DFPM) for University of Utah Health, effective January 16, 2024. He succeeds Kola Okuyemi, MD, PHD, who accepted the role of Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Health Equity Research and Implementation at Indiana University School of Medicine.
As interim Chair, Barrett will be responsible for managing the affairs and core administrative responsibilities of DFPM, along with creating a more unified and collaborative department; expanding the reach, market presence, and clinical revenue of the department; developing, targeting, and enhancing clearly defined, measurable, patient-centered value indicators; and refining and expanding training programs to better prepare learners in population health and medicine. He will also lead collaborative efforts across the system, such as working with the health sciences leadership team to build out the strategic plans for the department, partnering with other leaders to advance the transformation to an integrated and value-driven organization and increase the quantity, quality, and impact of population-medicine relevant research, with the goal of being in the top 10 nationally in NIH research funding.
“Dr. Barrett has proven to be an effective leader and a valuable member of our team at U of U Health”, said Sam Finlayson, MD, interim dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. “The mission of the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine is of vital importance to our organization, and I believe the department will be in excellent hands under his direction.”
Barrett is a family medicine physician who has been serving as the Executive Medical Director of the Community Physician Group since 2018. Under his leadership, the physician group has grown to provide care for around 500,000 patients annually, opened urgent care clinics across nine community health centers, collaborated with system leaders to launch virtual primary and urgent care platforms, and led initial Project CORE (Coordinating Optimal Referral Experiences) efforts with the AAMC to improve system-wide communications between primary care and specialty care via enhanced referrals and eConsults.
Barrett graduated medical school from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his residency training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. He has practiced in various settings over 30 years, working extensively with rural populations throughout the course of his career. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including twice receiving the United States Public Health Service Achievement Medal and the Utah Physician Assistant Association “Physician of the Year” in 2019. He has served as CMO Council Chair for the American Medical Group Association since 2020.