Dr. Thomas Owens Appointed President of Duke University Hospital
We are pleased to share with you the appointment of Thomas A. Owens, MD to the position of President, Duke University Hospital (DUH). Based on Dr. Owens’ outstanding performance over the past many years and consultation with Duke Health leadership, he was our clear choice for this role. Our recommendation that he be appointed DUH president was subsequently enthusiastically endorsed by Duke University Health System (DUHS) Board of Directors leadership. Dr. Owens will assume his new responsibilities effective January 1, 2018.
Over the past decade, Dr. Owens has made important and varied contributions to the success of DUH and DUHS. He led the work to redesign, realign and in some cases reinvent the way we deliver care in many areas of clinical practice. This work has already resulted in significant reductions in readmissions and lengths of stay and enhanced patient experience. He also served in a critically important leadership role with clinical providers and leaders in the planning, preparation and implementation of Maestro Care, one of the most fundamental transformations across DUHS since its inception in 1998.
Dr. Owens’ leadership in patient safety and quality management has resulted in marked quantifiable improvements across multiple clinical quality measures and CMS core measures. In addition under Dr. Owens’ leadership, Duke Primary Care (DPC) has become the leading primary care network in the greater Triangle area while consistently exceeding quality, growth and financial targets. He has also played a pivotal role in helping shape our approach and capabilities in population health improvement.
Dr. Owens completed an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics internship and residency at Duke in 1999, a General Internal Medicine fellowship in 2000, and served as Chief Resident in 2001. He has held a number of positions of increased responsibility over the years including Chief Medical Officer for DUH and chief of the DUHS Hospital Medicine program prior to being named Chief Medical Officer for DUHS in 2012.
Dr. Owens will retain his current title of Senior Vice President, DUHS. In this role, he will assist in advancing DUHS-wide objectives including payer strategy and population health management.
In addition to his management, leadership and performance excellence strengths, Dr. Owens’ commitment to our values and strong belief in supporting our Duke family define him as a leader.