Bechara Choucair, MD, returns as chief health officer 

After serving for nearly one year as the vaccinations coordinator on the White House COVID-19 Response Team, Bechara Choucair, MD, is returning to Kaiser Permanente in his previous role as senior vice president and chief health officer, effective December 27. He will again lead Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health function, overseeing enterprise efforts to address the social health of 12.5 million members and to improve health conditions for the 68 million people who live in the communities served by Kaiser Permanente. In addition, along with executive vice president and senior growth officer Arthur Southam, MD, he will be accountable for the care of over 1 million Kaiser Permanente Medicaid members and those who are dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare.

Since joining the White House task force in January 2021, Dr. Choucair has focused on coordinating the timely, safe, and equitable administration of COVID-19 vaccinations for the U.S. population, in close partnership with relevant federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local authorities, health systems, and community-based organizations. During his tenure as vaccinations coordinator, more than 450 million doses of the vaccines were administered nationwide. Vaccine eligibility expanded to include adolescents 12 to 17 years old and, most recently, 5 to 11 years old. A booster program also is now up and running for all 3 vaccines in the U.S. His significant contributions helped save lives and reduce illness and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19.

“Kaiser Permanente takes great pride in having one of our very own leaders serve in such a significant role for our nation,” said Greg A. Adams, chair and chief executive officer for Kaiser Permanente.

Stephanie Ledesma and David Grossman, MD, have been serving as interim senior vice presidents for the Office of Community Health while Dr. Choucair worked with the White House. Upon Dr. Choucair’s return, Ledesma will assume an expanded leadership role in the Office of Community Health, and Dr. Grossman will continue to lead the organization’s social health portfolio. He will also be part of the team working on health equity under executive vice president and chief medical officer Andrew Bindman, MD.