Baligh Yehia, MD, MPP, has joined Ascension Medical Group (AMG) as the new Chief Medical Officer, effective July 15. In this role, Dr. Yehia will lead and implement AMG’s clinical direction, driven by a culture of collaboration.
“Dr. Yehia was selected due to his extensive experience in building and leading change in complex health systems and markets, including the deployment of population health strategies,” said Joseph Cacchione, MD, President, Ascension Medical Group, Interim Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Michigan.
Dr. Yehia comes to AMG from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, where he led enterprise-wide initiatives to improve community health and clinical integration across Johns Hopkins Medicine's hospitals, physician network, home-care group and health plans.
Prior to his role at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Yehia served as the first Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Community Care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Washington, D.C., where he established the VA Office of Community Care. He also oversaw VA's Community Care Network, which includes more than 550,000 partners who deliver outpatient, inpatient, telehealth and extended care services to more than 2 million veterans annually.
A nationally recognized expert in health disparities and HIV medicine, Dr. Yehia has published more than 150 articles, abstracts and chapters in leading journals. He has made important contributions to the understanding of patient engagement in healthcare, and individual and environmental factors influencing access to and participation in care. Dr. Yehia has served in top leadership positions on numerous boards and councils, and is a former member of the Center for Medical Interoperability Board of Directors, American College of Physicians Board of Regents, American Medical Association Council on Medical Education and the Maryland State Medical Society Board of Trustees.
Dr. Yehia is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. He received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Florida, and completed internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and an infectious diseases fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University and Master of Science in Health Policy Research from the University of Pennsylvania.
For his innovative approach to health transformation and strong leadership, Dr. Yehia received the John D. Chase Award for Executive Excellence from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Walter J. McDonald Award for Outstanding Achievement from the American College of Physicians, and was named by both Becker's Healthcare and Modern Healthcare as a top leader under 40 years old.
“AMG is excited for Dr. Yehia to join the team,” Dr. Cacchione said.
