In the ongoing search for a new chief executive officer at Yale University Health, the associate provost for health affairs and academic integrity, Stephanie Spangler, announced on January 13 that she previously served as Yale Health chief Nanci Fortgang, Clinical Operations Officer, will serve as interim director.
Sarah Cook
Journalist
Jessie Cheung, Professional Photographer
Yale Health’s chief clinical operations officer, Nanci Fortgang, has been named interim director of the organization, according to a Jan. 13 email from Stephanie Spangler, vice provost for health affairs and academic integrity, to the Yale community.
The news comes a week after former Yale Health CEO Paul Jenningsin officially departed.He announced his retirement in August, which is Followed by Christine Chen resigned as Director of Student Health in September.
Fortgang’s promotion also comes days before the establishment of the Yale Health Campus Health Office, whose mission is “to develop and maintain infrastructure that protects the University’s core mission, while supporting the health and productivity of its communities in the face of everyday and emergency health risks, ’” according to an email from Spangler on Thursday morning.The new office will be run by Chief Quality Officer Madeline Wilson, who will now double as Chief Campus Health Officer.
Genecin said he was “delighted” with Fortgang’s appointment, adding that she would “stabilize” the organization during the transition.
“When Yale determines my successor as CEO, that person will arrive at a smoothly functioning organization,” Genecin wrote to the news. “They will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of Yale Health and Yale University. I am delighted that Nanci is willing to take on this important challenge.”
In her Jan. 13 email announcing the appointment, Spangler wrote that Fortgang came to Yale Health nearly 30 years ago and “quickly demonstrated her high operational skills and strong commitment to patient care” for the promotion, Eventually appointed Chief Clinical Operations Officer in 2015.
Spangler added that Fortgang has a “collaborative and caring leadership approach” that will ensure Yale Health “thrives and moves forward” during this transitional period.
“I am deeply committed to caring for our members and ensuring that the essential work of Yale Health will continue,” Fortgun wrote to the news.
Fortgang holds a BS in Nursing and a Public Masters from Boston University
New York University Administration. She is a board member of the Connecticut Medical Group Management Association and Telemedicine Special Interest Group. In addition, she is a member of the American College of Ambulatory Nursing and a certified medical practice executive from the Medical Group Management Association.
Among Fortgang’s accomplishments, Spangler cites her standardization of medical triage protocols, her reimagining of Yale’s flu vaccine program, her work designing operations at Lanman Field Hospital, and her role in Yale’s COVID-19 vaccination program leadership role.
During the pandemic, Fortgang helped establish the campus COVID resource line, helped staff and patients adapt to changing infection control rules in healthcare facilities, and played a “significant role” in the transition to telehealth, Genecin added.
“Nanci Fortgang has long been one of our most respected leaders,” Genecin wrote in an email to the news. “She oversees the running of all of our clinical programs. She has a great understanding of what it takes to keep a program running. She has earned the respect of our entire staff with her outstanding performance [judgment] And commit to doing the right thing. “
The active search for a Yale Health chief executive, who will permanently replace Genecin, is progressing “very well,” Spangler wrote.
The Yale Health Center is located at 55 Lock Street.
