University of Kentucky Healthcare recently announced two leadership promotions in response to expanded operations outside of the campus facilities.  Over the past few months, UK Healthcare increased clinical outreach, developing the appropriate infrastructure for off-campus clinical activities, and assuming management of the new Eastern State Hospital.

In response, Mark D. Birdwhistell, VP of Administration & External Affairs at UK Healthcare, announced that John Phillips and Rob Edwards  have new rolls within the organization.

John Phillips  assumed a dual role as chief administrative officer (CAO) for the 239-bed Eastern State Hospital and the associated 64-bed Central Kentucky Recovery Center (CKRC) and associate vice president for behavioral services. In this combined role, John has administrative oversight of both facilities and will work with the senior administrative team to strategically direct and lead behavioral health services across the UK HealthCare enterprise.

John will plan, develop and implement strategies for generating enhanced service delivery and revenues; assure efficiency and safety in all hospital operations; and establish an organizational structure that ensures accountability on the part of all departments and staff.  He reports to me and is directly accountable to the Eastern State Hospital Advisory Board.  As you may remember, UK HealthCare manages both facilities under a memorandum of agreement between UK and Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services. John will ensure we are achieving those contractual requirements.

Rob Edwards serves in a new role as chief external affairs officer for UK HealthCare. While maintaining and growing existing partnerships – particularly through affiliations and joint venture relationships – in this new role Rob will also identify clinical development opportunities and unique models of collaboration with primary care providers and hospitals. Specifically, this role includes new responsibility to develop a project management office and processes to appropriately analyze and coordinate outreach opportunities in Kentucky and beyond.

His position includes oversight of UK HealthCare marketing and the responsibility to ensure effective collaboration between marketing and public relations to improve UK HealthCare’s statewide presence and market share. Rob will also direct work in regulatory affairs to support the review of federal and state legislation that impacts UK HealthCare.