UC Health Names Hurford First Ever Chief Medical Officer

CINCINNATI—William Hurford, MD, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine since 2003, has been named the first chief medical officer (CMO) of UC Health, the university’s affiliated health system. 

UC Health President and CEO Richard Lofgren, MD, who announced Hurford’s appointment, said, "This newly created position is extremely significant for UC Health,” noting that the chief medical officer is responsible for the overall performance of UC Health clinical services in terms of quality, safety, service, efficiency and clinical outcomes.

Lofgren added that it is a great asset to have a candidate who not only has an acknowledged record of achievement as a clinician, educator, researcher and administrative leader, but also is already well acquainted with UC, the College of Medicine and the UC Health system.

"Bill knows our system, our capabilities, our challenges, and has earned the respect of his faculty colleagues and all of us at UC Health. He’ll be able to use that knowledge, understanding and relationships to immediately begin making an impact in this new leadership position.”

William Ball, MD, interim dean of the UC College of Medicine, said Hurford is an ideal choice for the CMO role. "Ensuring that the efforts of the College of Medicine and the UC Health system are closely integrated is essential, and Bill seamlessly bridges the clinical enterprise and the academic endeavor.”

Hurford came to Cincinnati from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he was director of critical care in the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care and Medical Director of Respiratory Care. He received his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency and fellowship training in anesthesiology and critical care at Massachusetts General.

Hurford has published more than 150 scientific articles and reviews. His broad research interests include inhaled nitric oxide therapy and the metabolic and physiologic consequences of hypoxia.  

Among his activities for UC Health and the College of Medicine, Hurford serves as a board member of UC Health, vice chair of the Medical Center Fund of Cincinnati and chair of the Compliance and Risk Management Committee of UC Physicians. Nationally, Hurford has served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, the Education Advisory Committee of the Association of University Anesthesiologists, Anesthesiology Section Chair for the Society of Critical Care Medicine and President and Secretary Treasurer of the Association of Midwest Academic Anesthesiology Chairmen.

Hurford said the CMO position represents an exciting and challenging opportunity. "I’m quite excited. I have spent the first 30 years of my medical career in teaching, research and caring for patients. Now I’ll have the chance, as a member of the UC Health executive team, to focus my activities and have an impact on the health care delivery system, as we work to improve safety, enhance quality, patient and family experience, efficiency and cost effectiveness.” 

Hurford added, "This is an amazing time at UC Health and the UC College of Medicine. And, as the region’s only academic medical center, we have an obligation to the Greater Cincinnati community to not just meet our high level of expectations but to exceed them. My goal is to continue the momentum.”