Glaser to head Siemens health IT unit

John Glaser, PhD Image source: Partners HealthCare

Siemens Healthcare has appointed John Glaser, PhD, as CEO of the health services business unit.

In this role, Glaser will be responsible for leading Siemens’ global health IT business, including product development, strategy, portfolio management, financial performance and customer satisfaction. When his appointment goes into effect on Aug. 16, he will lead more than 4,500 employees, various health information system brands, a global services arm and Siemens’ Information Systems Center, according to the company.

Most recently, Glaser served as an advisor to David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health IT, providing counsel to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the HITECH portions of the federal government's stimulus bill, particularly regarding national efforts to adopt EMRs.

Since 1995, Glaser served as vice president and CIO of Partners HealthCare in Boston, directing IT for 10 hospitals, 7,000 physicians and 45,000 employees, including a team of 1,300 IT professionals. He is founding chair of the College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME) and past president of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).