Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Health System appointed Jeffrey Keller, PhD, as its inaugural chief innovation officer.
Here are four notes:
1. Dr. Keller most recently founded a company that develops molecular diagnostics to improve the management of urological cancers.
2. He has also previously worked in operating roles at Little Chalfont, United Kingdom-based GE Healthcare and as an investment banker.
3. He has a doctorate degree in cell and developmental biology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and has performed post-doctorate research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's David H. Koch Center for Integrative Cancer Research in Boston.
4. In his new role, Dr. Keller will serve as a facilitator between clinicians and researchers as well as will identify, develop and determine new technologies and treatments' effectiveness.
"Jeff has both a scientific and a business background, and he has a great understanding of the biotech ecosystem," said Richard P. Shannon, MD, UVA's executive vice president for health affairs, in a statement. "Jeff will work at the interface between new discovery and new application of ideas across our health system. He will work with frontline nurses and clinicians to understand how technology might enable their work. All of this effort is designed to focus our discovery on the betterment of the human condition."