PITTSBURGH, July 27 /PRNewswire/ — Foundation Radiology Group (FRG), a premier provider of diagnostic imaging professional services headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christopher Olivia, M.D., M.B.A., to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Olivia, current President and CEO of West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS), brings an extensive resume of leadership skills to FRG’s Board.
"The addition of Dr. Olivia to our Board illustrates the level of excellence that we are striving for at Foundation Radiology Group," said FRG Chairman and CEO, Dr. Brandon Chan. "Dr. Olivia’s experience, insights, and leadership as both a doctor and businessman will be invaluable to our organization."
West Penn Allegheny Health System, a six-hospital academic system with two major teaching facilities, is the second largest private employer in Western Pennsylvania. During his tenure at WPAHS, Dr. Olivia has reorganized the System’s leadership structure and devised operational performance improvement assessment and implementation plans, negotiated a significantly improved contract with the region’s dominant payor, secured gains in public funding, reorganized the System’s Graduate Medical Education programs and established quality and financial goals for the System.
Prior to his current role at WPAHS, Dr. Olivia served as President and CEO for The Cooper Health System (CHS) in Camden, NJ, where he led the organization, which was previously on the verge of bankruptcy, to significant financial growth. Under Dr. Olivia’s stewardship, CHS rose to the No. 1 ranking in market shares among hospitals in the southern areas of New Jersey, amassed $25 million in federal funding and had the most financially successful years in its 120-year history. The Cooper Health System is New Jersey’s only academic medical center and one of three principal teaching hospitals of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Dr. Olivia previously held the positions of Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Health Partners in Springfield, OH and President/CEO of University Physicians, an integrated physician structure of more than 400 clinicians based in New Jersey.
"I look forward to sitting on the Board of such a unique organization. Foundation Radiology Group is truly changing the face of radiology as we currently know it," said Dr. Olivia. "I believe that the future holds continued success for FRG, and I am pleased to be a part of it."
"FRG will benefit greatly from Dr. Olivia’s dynamic work experience, which includes exposure to health insurance companies, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practices," said Koleman Karleski, Managing Director, Chrysalis Ventures. Karleski continued, "Chrysalis Ventures has been extremely pleased with Foundation Radiology Group’s growth and extraordinary success thus far, and we know that Dr. Olivia’s appointment to the board will be key to the continued success of the organization." Chrysalis Ventures led FRG’s initial round of venture funding totaling $10 million in April 2009.
Dr. Olivia earned his Bachelor’s degree in Science and Premed from the Pennsylvania State University and his medical degree with honors and academic distinction from Hahnemann Medical School. He served his internship at Colombia University’s Morristown Memorial Hospital Program, where he received the distinction of Intern of the Year. In addition to his medical degree, Dr. Olivia also earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Olivia completed his residency in ophthalmology at The University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He later joined a private practice and served as a physician manager in a group practice in Buffalo, New York. He has continued to practice medicine throughout his career.
