Eric Larson, MD, becomes director of Group Health Center for Health Studies
Group Health has named Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, as director of its
Group Health Center for Health Studies (CHS), a research institution that promotes the
prevention and effective treatment of major health problems. Founded in
1983, CHS has an annual budget of about $22 million, which supports more
than 150 public-domain research studies.
Larson, who is widely recognized for his research in the fields of
aging, dementia, and technology assessment, has served as director of the
University of Washington (UW) Medical Center since 1989.
Larson's connection to Group Health goes back many years. In the early
1980s, he worked with the Cooperative's leadership to establish research
and health promotion programs for older adults. Then in 1986, he received
a grant from the National Institute on Aging to establish the UW
Alzheimer's Disease Patient Registry—using information about Group Health
members. This clinical and epidemiologic database became a national model
for tracking patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease over time,
contributing immensely to scientific understanding of these conditions.
"We're very pleased that Dr. Larson has agreed to lead our
research center at this crucial time in the evolution of our nation's
health care system," said Dr. Hugh Straley, associate medical
director for Group Health. "His clinical and research experience as
well as his leadership will be valuable to the Center's continuing success
in health-services research and innovation."
Larson said he was inspired to seek the Group Health job after reading
a landmark report published last year by the Institute of Medicine,
"Crossing the Quality Chasm." The report outlines the systematic
changes needed to improve the nation's health care.
"I think Group Health has one of the best opportunities in the
country to pursue the vision promoted in that report, and it occurred to
me that Group Health Center for Health Studies is the best place to do this kind of
work," Larson said.
He added that his own research showed him "how well older
patients' care can be when it is coordinated and organized around the
principles of managed care in a primary-care model," said Larson.
"So, I'm looking forward to contributing to the Center's research
into improving the health of whole populations, which is the foundation of
managed care," he said.
As director of CHS, Larson will be responsible for the scientific and
administrative leadership of the Center, which conducts epidemiologic,
health services, behavioral, and clinical research to benefit Group Health
members and the general public. His duties will include recruiting and
developing scientific and professional staff; assuring the Center's
financial stability; formulating and implementing CHS policy; and assuring
that research activities contribute to the Center's mission.
Larson, who specializes in internal medicine, has a B.A. in history
from Stanford University. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in
1973, where he completed his internship and residency. In 1975, he became
a senior fellow in the UW's Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar program.
He earned his masters degree in public health from UW in 1977.
A professor of medicine and adjunct professor of health services at UW
since 1988, Larson also serves as a commissioner on the Joint Commission
for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and as a regent with the
American College of Physicians.
Group Health named Larson to the post following an extensive nationwide
search. Larson plans to begin work at Group Health on November 1, 2002. He
will continue to care for patients through his part-time clinical practice
at UW Medical Center.
News Release Contacts
Top
|
search
