Former Chief Policy Advisor to New York Governor David A. Paterson is
distinguished vascular surgeon and healthcare policy expert
MADISON, N.J., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services, today announced that Jon R. Cohen, M.D., Senior
Advisor to New York Governor David A. Paterson, will join the company as
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer on March 30, 2009.
Dr. Cohen has an extensive background in federal and state healthcare
policy. He was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2006 when he
ran on a platform centered on the healthcare crisis and substantive healthcare
reform. Previously he advised Sen. John Kerry on healthcare policy during his
presidential campaign in 2004. As Senior Advisor to Governor Paterson, Dr.
Cohen was responsible for all policy and strategic planning.
"As our nation embarks on major healthcare reform, diagnostic testing and
healthcare IT are increasingly seen as catalysts to improve healthcare
outcomes and reduce costs," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. "Jon Cohen brings a wealth of experience as a healthcare
policy expert as well as a distinguished surgeon and a senior hospital
executive to this newly created position of Chief Medical Officer. I look
forward to working with him to further our patient-centric strategy and drive
growth."
Dr. Cohen has spent more than two decades in the healthcare field. Before
joining Governor Paterson as his Chief Policy Advisor, he served as Managing
Director, Health Industries Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers. At PwC he was
a leader for the national consulting practice with specific expertise on
quality of care standards, health information technology, health system
network integration and merger strategies, and physician recruitment
strategies.
Prior to joining PwC, Dr. Cohen served for six years as Chief Medical
Officer and Senior Vice President at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health
System, the nation's fourth-largest nonprofit health system. In that capacity
he served as the health system's senior physician with overall responsibility
for the professional management of all clinical, educational, research and
administrative matters.
Dr. Cohen has held senior professional appointments, including Professor
of Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Senior Lecturer at
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. In addition to having
published more than 100 peer-reviewed professional articles, Dr. Cohen has
spoken regularly on health and healthcare issues, authored policy articles for
major newspapers and served as a guest commentator on leading broadcast media.
Dr. Cohen holds a B.S. degree from the University of Miami and an M.D.
degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed his
general surgery residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Brigham and Women's
Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service
centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical
and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative
diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that
help improve patient care.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Laure Park, +1-973-520-2900
or
Gary Samuels, +1-973-520-2800
both for Quest Diagnostics
Web Site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com