Dr. Robert Lynch named Tulane Clinic CEO

Dr. Robert Lynch has been named CEO of Tulane University Hospital & Clinic. Lynch comes from the South Central Veteran Affairs Health Care Network, where he served as the network director since 2000.

The selection was announced by Mel Lagarde, HCA Delta Division president and CEO, with

"Dr. Lynch is an experienced leader who has a tremendous understanding of the issues that impact health care in the greater New Orleans area and the Gulf South," Lagarde said. "He brings more than a decade of leadership experience within academic medical centers and a proven record of operational excellence.

Lynch has been in the health care field for more than 25 years. He is now responsible for leading one of the VA's largest networks, which covers all or parts of eight states in the southern United States and serves a veteran population of 1.8 million.

Lynch has played a significant role in the growth of the VA patient base and expanded the number of VA clinics in the region. He dedicated a substantial portion of his time to the recovery of VA hospitals and clinics in the Gulf South after Hurricane Katrina.

"Tulane School of Medicine enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Tulane University Hospital & Clinic," said Dr. Lee Hamm, interim dean of Tulane School of Medicine. "We are confident that he will use his extensive leadership background in academic medical centers to greatly enhance our joint medical school and hospital clinical operations."

Lynch said he is ready for his new role.

"Tulane is an extraordinary health care and teaching facility and I look forward to advancing the organization, serving the New Orleans community and continuing to position Tulane as one of the nation's premier academic medical centers," Lynch said.

Lynch spent four years in the U.S. Air Force before attending medical school at UT Southwestern. He began his career with the VA as an internal medicine resident at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in 1982. Lynch served as associate dean, Veterans Affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 1992 and associate dean for VA Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., since 1994.

Credit: CityBusiness Staff Report