The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has appointed Dr. Karen DeSalvo as the new national coordinator for health information technology (HIT) at the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).
DeSalvo will be leaving her current post as the New Orleans health commissioner and senior health policy adviser to Mayor Mitch Landrieu on January 10 to assume the position. During her tenure, DeSalvo has been at the forefront of efforts to modernize the New Orleans healthcare system, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in an email announcing the change.
DeSalvo will take over from acting national coordinator Dr. Jacob Reider.