A Fond Farewell, and Know You Are in Good Hands
12.18.2019
Cletis Earle, CHCIO, Chair, Foundation Board; SVP & CIO, Information Technology Kaleida Health
The year 2020 is right around the corner, and the New Year will ring in new leadership on the CHIME Foundation Board. I would like to use this opportunity to thank my fellow CHIME Foundation Board members and our Foundation partners for all you have done for the Foundation and CHIME throughout the year, and to introduce your 2020 chair, Shafiq Rab.
This year we have looked for new and better ways to help CHIME members and Foundation partners collaborate to improve health and care. It has been a pleasure and honor to work alongside the other CHIME Foundation Board members to ensure the Foundation provides valuable networking, educational opportunities and resources for Foundation firms. Leaving such great colleagues is difficult, but I am confident my successor will be a fantastic leader.
Shafiq is the senior vice president and CIO at the Rush System for Health and Rush University Medical Center. Under Shafiq, Rush has become a leader in innovation, using tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve outcomes in Chicago’s communities. Both Shafiq and Rush have earned numerous honors and recognition for adopting and advancing cutting-edge technologies. Shafiq is well known in Washington, D.C, too, and is often invited to share his insights with federal policy makers.
Shafiq is also a physician, having earned a medical degree from Dow Medical College in Pakistan, and later a master’s degree in public health from Rutgers University. Yet more likely than not when colleagues meet him for the first time, he encourages them to call him simply by his first name, Shafiq. I call him Shafiq, and also my very good friend.
Have a wonderful holiday and New Year’s. While I will no longer be your chair in 2020, I will remain your champion. I look forward to seeing you at CHIME events and staying in touch throughout the year.