/EINPresswire.com/ -- MURRAY, UT--(Marketwired - January 28, 2016) -  After an extensive search, SelectHealth announces that Russ Kuzel, MD, has been named as the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Kuzel will be responsible for SelectHealth clinical operations and services and will serve as a member of the SelectHealth Executive Team. He succeeds Dr. Stephen Barlow, who began his new role as Population Health Medical Director for Intermountain Healthcare in September 2015.

Dr. Kuzel most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of UCare, a $3.5 billion health plan located in Minneapolis, MN, where he was responsible for leading clinical strategy and services. UCare provided health insurance products and services designed for Medicare, Medicaid, and dual-eligible populations, as well as insurance exchange products for individuals and families.

Dr. Kuzel previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Security Health Plan owned by the Marshfield Clinic located in Marshfield, WI, where he was responsible for policy, planning, program development, and organizational strategies with providers and the health plan. In addition to his clinical leadership in not-for-profit health plans, Dr. Kuzel has also had significant clinical experience and demonstrated success in large multi-specialty provider organizations, including the Dakota Clinic where he led a group of 175 multi-specialty providers in his role as president and chair of the board of directors.

Dr. Kuzel is a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he also completed his residency in family practice. He earned a Master of Medical Management from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in 2008, was recognized for Academic Achievement in Medical Management by the American College of Physician Executives in 2005, and attended the Physician Leadership College at University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis from 2002-2004.

Dr. Kuzel begins his new role at SelectHealth in March 2016.

Based in Salt Lake City, SelectHealth is a not-for-profit health insurance organization serving more than 830,000 members in Utah and southern Idaho. SelectHealth is committed to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

In addition to medical plans, SelectHealth offers dental, vision, pharmacy benefit management, and life and disability coverage to its members. SelectHealth plans are available for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid enrollees. SelectHealth is also a carrier for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP).

As a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare, SelectHealth is part of one of the nation's top 100 integrated health systems (IMS Health 02/15). Intermountain's not-for-profit system includes 22 hospitals, physicians, clinics and services, and health insurance plans from SelectHealth.

SelectHealth is consistently rated as Utah's top HMO plan by state and national organizations, receiving top scores in both member satisfaction and clinical performance. For details, visit selecthealth.org.

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Contact Information: 
Jamee Wright
Jamee.wright@selecthealth.org

Dr. Kuzel begins his new role at SelectHealth in March 2016.