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Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer Could Become Next OHA Director

Although it’s unknown when Gov. Kitzhaber will announce his choice for this high-level position, the candidate must be approved by the Senate Rules Committee.
December 4, 2014

Everyone’s lips were sealed about who’ll be tapped as the next director of the Oregon Health Authority when 1,300 people gathered at the Oregon Convention Center yesterday for a conference on improving healthcare innovation.

But speculation ran wild. When Governor Kitzhaber took the podium, acknowledging he’d had a rough few months, several people expected him to announce his candidate since the interview process has been underway for quite some time.

Following the resignation of Dr. Bruce Goldberg last May, Suzanne Hoffman became interim administrator but has not entered her name into the ring. “I’m not interested in doing this long term,” she told The Lund Report. “I just agreed to help out in the interim. I hope they name a new director soon.” Hoffman is expected to return to her previous role as chief operating officer of the health authority.

Among the candidates under serious consideration is Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, CEO of Umpqua Health Alliance and Architrave Health in Roseburg. When asked if he had been interviewed, Dannenhoffer told The Lund Report, “I could be, or I could not be.”

Interestingly, when Dannenhoffer was asked about his interest in the job at a political forum sponsored by the Oregon Medical Association in October, he acted surprised about rumors circulating that he was seeking the position.

From Roseburg, Dannenhoffer is a close colleague of Kitzhaber who spent 14 years at Mercy Medical Center as an emergency room physician before entering politics.

A pediatrician, Dannenhoffer is CEO of the coordinated care organization known as Umpqua Health Alliance and also leads Architrave Health, a partnership between Mercy Medical Center, and its physician alliance, Douglas County IPA, that helps recruit physicians to the area. Under his leadership, the CCO has brought together physical, dental, mental and public health services. He’s also past president of the Oregon Medical Association, and was named a Smoke Free Oregon hero in 2012.

Although it’s unknown when Kitzhaber will make the official announcement, it could happen later this month. That’s what Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) and Kelly Ballas, chief financial officer of the health authority, have been hearing. Whoever Kitzhaber selects, that person must be confirmed by the Senate Rules Committee, which meets early next week and, once again Jan. 12.

“I’d like to be part of the process for the selection,” said Sen. Alan Bates (D-Medford), who expressed remorse about not having heard any prospective names.

Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer (D-Portland), believes the nominee must be committed to integrative healthcare. She’s impressed with Silas Halloran-Steiner, the director of Yamhill County Health and Human Services, but doubts he’s in the running. “I’m impressed with the great things he’s done,” she told The Lund

Report. Under his leadership the health and human services organization is moving into the new era of care coordination among the full spectrum of healthcare service providers.

OHA losing high-level staff

Kitzhaber may want to select his nominee soon given the number of people leaving the health authority. The latest resignations include Tricia Tillman, administrator of the Oregon Office of Multicultural Health and Services who may be going to Multnomah County Public Health. Also stepping down, with no date certain, is Kelly Ballas, chief financial officer for the authority and interim administrator of OEBB and PEBB. He’s interested in transitioning to a part-time position once he turns 66 in February.

Since the departure of administrator Joan Kapowich, the boards of PEBB and OEBB have been searching for her replacement, but the prospective candidates have turned down the offer, believing the salary is not high enough for the amount of work required. Those boards are expected to ask the Legislature for an increase in funding before beginning the job recruitment process again.

Also, in the past few weeks, three prominent health authority officials have either left or announced their departure -- Tina Edlund, who’s been overseeing the technology transition projects for Cover Oregon; Cathy Kaufmann, director of the authority’s transformation center and Patty Wentz, the health authority’s main spokesperson.

Diane can be reached at [email protected].

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