OHSU Appointments

   Portland, Ore.

New Vice Provost for OHSU West Campus Appointed

Marilyn S. Lanier has joined Oregon Health & Science University in the newly created position of vice provost for the OHSU West Campus. Lanier will be responsible for coordinating fiscal services, facilities, information technology, human resources, academic and student affairs and other administrative functions for OHSU's Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Neurological Sciences Institute, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute and OGI School of Science & Engineering.

"I think this is a truly unique opportunity to integrate the West Campus units with each other and with the larger OHSU community," says Lanier. "I welcome the chance to help the West Campus play a defining role in making OHSU the nation's premier health and research university."

A native of Portland, Lanier was formerly deputy vice chancellor for finance and administration for the Oregon University System in Eugene. Previously, she has held a variety of leadership positions in government and the private sector.

OHSU Provost Lesley Hallick, Ph.D., says she has had an opportunity to observe Lanier at work for several years at the Oregon University System. "As a leader in Oregon higher education for several years, Marilyn has already made a significant contribution to advancing OHSU's mission. We're extremely fortunate she has chosen to put her skills and experience to work full time for OHSU.
New Director Appointed to OHSU Risk Management Department

OHSU has recruited Cynthia Wickstrom, J.D., chief compliance officer for General Electric's Employers Reinsurance Corporation (ERC), to head its Risk Management Department. ERC, a part of GE's 600,000 employees worldwide, has operations in 45 countries and provides a wide variety of reinsurance, insurance and risk management services. Wickstrom reports to OHSU General Counsel, Steve Stadum, J.D.

While she appreciated the opportunity to work internationally within a culturally diverse organization with a focus on Six Sigma quality, rigorous business process and operational excellence, Wickstrom said her greatest desire was to work for an institution that is driven by a mission of improving people's lives.

"I was immediately attracted to OHSU's four-pronged mission. Often you can find institutions that emphasize one or two of those elements, but not all four," said Wickstrom, referring to OHSU's mission of healing, teaching, discovery and community service.

"I'm interested in Oregon's burgeoning biotech industry, and the pivotal role OHSU will play, a role that has only been reinforced since its merger with OGI. I find this new partnership, along with The Oregon Opportunity and the OHSU Master Plan very intriguing, and I'm excited to have the chance to be a part of those endeavors. I'm also very excited to be back in the academic medical community."

As head of risk management, Wickstrom will focus on building systems and processes to proactively anticipate OHSU's liability, property and safety risks so as to minimize the bumps along the way as OHSU continues to grow and progress.

Wickstrom began her career as a trial lawyer focusing primarily on medical malpractice and tort claims defense for the Iowa Attorney General's Office in 1984. She then went on to serve as assistant to the director of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; as director of Risk/Safety Services at Saint Joseph Health System, Kansas City, Mo.; as director of Risk/Safety Services and Corporate Responsibility Officer at Carondelet Health, Inc. Kansas City, Mo.; and, for the past 3 1/2 years, as CCO for General Electric/Employers Reinsurance Corporation, Overland Park, Kan.

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OHSU Communications
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