Desert Care Network Names William W. Brien, MD, as Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Brien will work with administrators and the medical staff to advance clinical services at Tenet Healthcare’s three-hospital system in California’s desert communities

Palm Springs – Desert Care Network has named William W. Brien, MD, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the three hospitals and related outpatient clinics operated by Tenet Healthcare in California’s desert communities.

In this new role, Dr. Brien will lead the hospitals’ efforts to advance clinical services and quality improvement initiatives with the physicians on the medical staffs at Desert Regional Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital and Hi-Desert Medical Center.

“Dr. Brien brings a wealth of experience to Desert Care Network, and we are so pleased to have him join us,” said Michele Finney, CEO for Desert Care Network and Desert Regional Medical Center. “He is an expert in clinical quality and hospital operations who has served at well-known academic medical centers across the country. We look forward to his leadership as we grow the clinical programs our desert communities need to remain healthy and thriving.”

Dr. Brien previously was Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer for University Hospitals of Cleveland, which has consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The UH system serves more than 1 million patients each year and includes University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital -- which is recognized as one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals -- and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center -- part of the National Cancer Institute-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Prior to his time in Cleveland, Dr. Brien served as Senior Vice President Operations and Chief Clinical Officer for Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston. Dr. Brien is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated medical school at UCLA School of Medicine and completed a residency at University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he became a Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Vice-Chief of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He spent more than a decade in clinical leadership positions at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was a Professor of Surgery and founder of the Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center.

“Desert Care Network hospitals offer critical healthcare services to the desert communities – including a network of three trauma centers, three stroke-ready hospitals, and a host of other key programs,” Dr. Brien said. “I’m very excited to return to California and work with the dedicated physicians and clinical providers to grow and improve our services, which save lives each and every day.”