First CEO selected for NIH Clinical Center

Major General James K. Gilman, MD, U.S. Army (retired), has been named as the first CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, the largest clinical research hospital in the country.

“Dr. Gilman is a cardiologist and highly decorated leader with rich experience in commanding the operations of numerous hospital systems,” said NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD. “His medical expertise and military leadership will serve the NIH Clinical Center well as it continues to strive for world-class patient care and research excellence.”

Changes in the leadership structure at the center were recommended in a report following up on safety problems at one of its sterile production units in 2015. While no evidence of patient harm was found, an independent task force found the culture of the center emphasized research needs over patient safety.

Gilman led several hospitals during his 35 years in the Army, including Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Walter Reed Health Care System, Washington, D.C.; and Bassett Army Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He was most recently executive director of Johns Hopkins Military & Veterans Institute in Baltimore until June 2016.

He received his MD from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Now, he’ll oversee a 200-bed, 870,000-square foot facility which had about 6,000 inpatient admissions and 100,000 outpatient visits last year.

The current head of the clinical center is being moved into another position.

“I especially want to thank Dr. John Gallin who, after many years as Clinical Center Director, has taken on the new role of NIH Associate Director for Clinical Research and Chief Scientific Officer,” Collins said. “This critical position is essential to ensuring that NIH continue its record of extraordinary scientific accomplishments in a world-class research setting.”