New Leadership Roles for David Bates, Allen Kachalia and Tom Walsh

David Bates, MD, MS, who served as chief quality officer, has taken on a new leadership role as chief innovation officer, reporting directly to BWHC President Betsy Nabel, MD. In this position, Bates will focus on identifying opportunities to drive transformative change at Brigham and Women’s. He will also serve as executive sponsor of the Brigham Innovation Hub (iHub), a catalyst of innovation across the institution.

Allen Kachalia

Tom Walsh

David Bates

“David brings a depth and breadth of experience in research and innovation science—and a deep commitment to these areas—that will undoubtedly foster a culture of innovation and the establishment of infrastructure to support it across the institution,” said Nabel.

Allen Kachalia, MD, JD, associate chief quality officer, has been appointed chief quality officer and vice president of Quality and Safety at BWHC, reporting to Ron Walls, MD, BWHC executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will work with the BWHC board and leadership to develop quality and safety goals and lead the development, implementation and measurement of these programs at BWHC. He will also direct implementation of Partners-wide programs at BWHC and oversee performance related to state and national measures.

“Allen has a national and international reputation in the areas of quality and safety, and his continued leadership in these areas will ensure that we continue to deliver the best and safest possible care to every patient who comes through our doors,” said Walls.

Tom Walsh, MBA, co-director of the Center for Clinical Excellence and administrative director of Business Planning and Analysis, will be promoted to vice president of Analytics, Planning and Performance Improvement, reporting to Shelly Anderson, vice president of Strategy Implementation. He will be responsible for leading teams across the organization that support BWHC’s needs for analysis, decision support, business planning, performance improvement and strategy execution.

“Tom’s strong experience in these key areas will be a remarkable asset to the senior leadership group as we seek to achieve our strategic objectives,” said Walls.

Nathaniel Treister

Nathaniel Treister New Chief of BWH Oral Medicine and Dentistry

Nathaniel Treister, DMD, DMSc, has been appointed chief of the Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry at BWH, effective Jan. 1. He will serve in a similar role at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Treister succeeds longstanding Chief Stephen Sonis, DMD, DMSc.

Treister joined BWH’s Department of Surgery as an associate surgeon in 2005. In 2009, he was named program director for the Harvard/Brigham Residency Program in Oral Medicine, which has achieved national recognition under his leadership. He also serves as a surgeon at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and is on the consulting staff of Boston Children’s Hospital. His primary research involves oral complications of cancer therapy and, particularly, graft-vs.-host disease.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Treister to establish a vision of teamwork and collaboration, promote junior faculty and continue to develop the department’s rich research portfolio,” said Surgery Chair Michael Zinner, MD, FACS. “I thank him for his commitment, leadership and vision to the division and department.”

Treister received his BA from Stanford University. After earning his DMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, he completed specialty training and his DMSc at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Among his accolades, he serves as study chair for a Children’s Oncology Group phase 3 clinical trial for mucositis prevention in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is the site principal investigator for a NIH/NIDCR-sponsored study evaluating dental and oral health outcomes following radiation therapy for head and neck cancers.

Zinner added: “I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Sonis for his unwavering dedication and outstanding service as chief, a role he has held since 2008. Dr. Sonis began his career at the Sidney Farber Cancer Institute and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, and has served in leadership roles at the Brigham since the 1970s. We are fortunate that he will remain in the division and that we will continue to benefit from his wisdom, expertise and rich depth and breadth of experience.”