Obama Appoints Don Berwick in Charge of Medicare and Medicaid

President Obama appointed Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through a method called a recess appointment during Congress’ week-long July 4th break.

Dr. Berwick was one of the nine original judges for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He is the founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Under his leadership, IHI has made tremendous contributions to healthcare in the United States by showing hospitals, physicians, and the entire healthcare community how significant improvement in healthcare costs and effectiveness can be achieved using quality principles and quality approaches.

This year, ASQ awarded him its highest distinction for service—the ASQ Distinguished Service Medal—for dedicating his career to improving quality, safety, value, and access to healthcare by challenging, teaching, leading, researching, collaborating, and, most of all, inspiring countless individuals and organizations to improve care and save lives.