Karen Bell to Lead CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology has named Karen Bell, M.D., as its new chair, effective immediately. She succeeds the retiring Mark Leavitt, M.D.


The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology has named Karen Bell, M.D., as its new chair, effective immediately. She succeeds the retiring Mark Leavitt, M.D.

Bell most recently served as senior vice president of health information services at Masspro, the quality improvement organization of Massachusetts. She previously served in several positions within the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, including director of the office of health information technology adoption and acting deputy of ONC.

A graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston with experience as an internal medicine practitioner, Bell also has served as division director for the quality improvement group in the office of standards and quality at the Department of Health and Human Services, and medical director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, among other positions.

Leavitt will provide assistance during a transition period. Alisa Ray will remain as executive director at CCHIT.

The organization also continues to accept applicants through April 16 to serve on workgroups to develop new certification programs for EHRs serving oncology and women's health. More information is available at cchit.org.

--Joseph Goedert