Tuesday Kudos: Stephens Inc. Adds Analyst To Health Care IT Sector

Stephens Inc. expands its research practice, the University of Arkansas makes a temporary appointment permanent, and a St. Vincent’s executive earns a new honor.

MOHAN NAIDU JOINS STEPHENS INC.
Stephens Inc. today is expanding its Research Division’s healthcare and technology practices with the addition of Mohan Naidu, CFA, as Vice President and Research Analyst covering the healthcare information technology (HCIT) sector.

Naidu will work from Stephens’ Chicago office as the investment firm launches coverage on the healthcare IT sector. Stephens currently has a six-member healthcare research team focused on healthcare services, medical devices, diagnostics and life science tools.

“With healthcare IT adoption at record levels, I believe that HCIT companies will play a key role in U.S. healthcare reform. For the first time, we are going to have minable clinical and claims data in digital form for the vast majority of the U.S. population,” said Naidu. “This data, coupled with the innovation in HCIT, should help the industry discover potentially lifesaving treatment protocols and improve population health management while making a dent in healthcare costs.”

Naidu has more than 13 years of experience in HCIT including industry and Wall Street involvement, starting with his role in healthcare design and development with General Electric. Naidu also worked for Piper Jaffray & Co. in Chicago as an equity research analyst in healthcare services and HCIT.

UA APPOINTS DANIELLE WOOD TO PERMANENT POSITION
Danielle Wood, the interim co-director of the office of equal opportunity and compliance at the University of Arkansas since July 2011, has been appointed as the new director of the office.

The director of equal opportunity and compliance reports to the vice chancellor for diversity and community and is responsible for leading and coordinating the university’s affirmative-action programs and ensuring equal opportunity compliance, in accordance with federal and state laws and U of A policies.

Wood’s duties will include implementing annual policy and program updates in collaboration with human resources, academic affairs and other institutional divisions within the university; proposing and implementing educational opportunities for faculty, staff and students to reduce the risk of non-compliance; and working with faculty and staff search committees involved in recruitment and hiring.

She will also be involved in designing educational materials to promote the recruitment of a diverse workforce; investigating and processing inquiries and complaints related to hiring processes and procedures; representing the office of equal opportunity and compliance in meetings with the university community and external constituents.

She has bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and human resource development, a master’s degree in vocational education with an emphasis in human resource development, and a doctorate in workforce development education, all from the University of Arkansas.

ST. VINCENT’S DAVID FOX ELECTED TO IMAGING POST
David R. Fox, CRA, FAHRA, President St. Vincent North has been elected for a three-year-term as President of the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), the professional organization representing management at all levels of hospital imaging departments, freestanding imaging centers and group practices.

The mission of AHRA is to be a resource and catalyst for the development of professional leadership in medical imaging management. Fox will be formally installed as President-elect at the July 2013 annual meeting in Minneapolis.

Fox was named the new President of St. Vincent North located in Sherwood in March 2013. He grew up in Jacksonville, Ark., earned a bachelor’s degree in general science at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and a master’s degree in Business Administration at Oklahoma City University in Tulsa.

Fox began his healthcare career as a nuclear medicine technologist. He has served in leadership positions at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo and at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.