UMHS reorganizes leadership structure

President Mark Schlissel and the head of the U-M Health System, Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D., recently outlined a series of leadership changes intended to increase integration and collaboration across the health system.

Runge, currently the university’s executive vice president for medical affairs, assumed additional responsibility as dean of the Medical School on Jan. 1, 2016—an action intended to increase collaboration between faculty and staff at the two entities.

Also announced was the creation of two new positions to the health system, as proposed by Runge. David Spahlinger, M.D. was promoted to executive vice dean for clinical affairs and president of the hospitals, health centers and the U-M Medical Group. T. Anthony Denton, J.D., M.H.A. was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer for hospitals, health centers and the U-M Medical Group.

In recommending these changes, Runge said that strong leaders are essential for the future of the health system. “Critical to our success,” said Runge, “is our ability to attract and cultivate strong leaders. We must have leaders who are change agents, willing to take risks, encourage innovation, and who can turn new ideas into daily practice.”

“We must have leaders who are change agents, willing to take risks, encourage innovation, and who can turn new ideas into daily practice.”

– Marschall Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Medical School

As the U-M Health system continues a process of assessment and review of priorities, additional top leaders will be named in academic affairs and education programs, the research enterprise and information technology.

Runge said that since coming to the university in March 2015, he has learned “that Michigan is a great institution with exceptional people at all levels of faculty and staff.” But he said he also believed U-M can be better.