ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Altarum Institute today
announced that Lincoln T. Smith has been elected as the nonprofit
institute's president and CEO. Smith previously served as Altarum's chief
operating officer and replaces retiring CEO Kenneth R. Baker. The
appointment became effective July 1, 2007.
Altarum conducted a national search before naming Smith to the
position.
"We had an extraordinary pool of candidates that we considered, but
ultimately we came back to our systems research roots," said Charles H.
Roadman, chairman of Altarum's Board of Trustees.
"Linc first came here because of this organization's reputation for
applying operations research to solve complex systems problems confronting
our nation. Today, we turn to him as our CEO because we know that
understanding how systems behave and can be improved is fundamental to
delivering the comprehensive, cross-cutting health care transformation we
so desperately need in America."
Smith joined Vector Research Incorporated (acquired by Altarum in 2001)
in 1988, shortly after completing his master's degree in industrial and
operations engineering at the University of Michigan, where he was a
National Science Foundation Graduate Studies Fellow. Smith has a strong
background in operations research - an interdisciplinary science that uses
various scientific methods to assist in making better decisions in complex,
real-world situations. Operations research is often distinguished as a
discipline for its ability to assess and improve an entire system as
opposed to concentrating on only a particular element of an organization.
Smith has led several major initiatives during his tenure, including
the design and implementation of an automated information system for
tracking childhood immunizations throughout Michigan (the first such system
in the nation) and the development of a one-of-a-kind, enterprise-level
health care simulation model to examine alternative systems changes in the
delivery of health care.
"I can't think of an organization better equipped or more deeply
motivated than Altarum to use these systems tools to make people healthier
and make their lives better," said Smith, 43. "We have gifted researchers
who develop sophisticated tools, but what makes us leaders is our ability
to take those tools into diverse situations, amidst complicated systems,
and do something simple, like making sure a veteran is receiving the mental
health care he deserves, or ensuring women and children in underserved
communities are receiving high-quality oral health services. That's why we
love what we do."
The selection of a new CEO caps a period of organizational planning and
restructuring at Altarum. Three years ago, the Institute worked in health
care as well as the environmental, national security and automotive
sectors. Just two years ago, Altarum's health-related revenues were less
than $15 million. Today, with a singular focus on health systems research
and solutions, Altarum projects nearly $40 million in revenue,
predominantly derived from its work for government and foundation clients
in the health care arena.
The Institute also has launched a continuous, internally-funded
research and development program that, according to Chairman Roadman, is
"looking well beyond 'system tweaks' and toward the shape of the health
care system after next."
Outgoing CEO Baker spoke of his satisfaction at the end of his tenure.
"Altarum has flourished through a period of remarkable change," said
Baker. "Today it is poised to become a truly great institution making a
critically important contribution to our nation's well-being."
Altarum Institute (http://www.altarum.org) is a nonprofit research
institution headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich. Altarum is working to become
the nation's preeminent provider of health systems research, analysis and
consulting services.
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