The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Welcomes New Board Members

The Authority is indebted to board members whose service has expired

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority welcomes three new members to its Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors.

"The Patient Safety Authority is pleased to welcome new members to its board," Mike Doering , executive director of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority said. "The Authority has experienced many changes throughout the years and I'm confident the new board members will keep the Authority on the right track of improving patient safety in Pennsylvania's healthcare facilities while offering their insight into how we might add to our achievements in the patient safety arena."

The 2013 new Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority board members include:

John Bulger , DO, MBA

John Bulger , DO, MBA was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett . Dr. Bulger is the chief quality officer at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and his undergraduate degree from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. He also received his master's degree in business administration (MBA) from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Bulger is filling a vacant position on the board that must be held by a physician.

Daniel Glunk , MD

Daniel Glunk , MD was appointed by Senator Joseph Scarnati , President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Pennsylvania. Dr. Glunk practices internal medicine in Williamsport, Pa. and is the former President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (October 2008-October 2009). He received his medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. Dr. Glunk is filling a position on the board that must be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Pennsylvania.

Sant Ram , MD

Sant Ram , MD was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett . Dr. Ram specializes in pediatrics in Erie, Pa. He received his medical degree from the All-India Institute of Medical Science/ Ansari Nagar . Dr. Ram is filling a position on the board that must be held by a healthcare worker.

Doering expressed regret that to make room for the new board members, other board members that have been with the Patient Safety Authority from the beginning will no longer be able to serve.

"Unfortunately, while we gain new insight with the new board members, we must say goodbye to two members who have been instrumental in shaping the Patient Safety Authority into what it has become today," Doering said. "The Authority will always be indebted to Ms. Fuhrman and Dr. Webster for their time and dedication that helped make the Authority a leader in patient safety not only in Pennsylvania, but across the nation."

The two former Authority board members are as follows:

Anita Fuhrman, RN , BS

Ms. Fuhrman was director of the Lebanon Outpatient Surgical Center. She has been involved in nursing and nursing administration for more than 35 years. A member of the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association, Fuhrman helped reactivate the Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association in 1995 and served as president. She received her BS in Health Care Management from Lebanon Valley College. Ms. Fuhrman resides in Lebanon County.

Marshall W. Webster , M.D.

Dr. Webster is the executive vice president and chief medical officer of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He is also president of the University of Pittsburgh Physicians, a multi-specialty group practice comprised of approximately 1,350 practitioners who are on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also president of the Physician Services Division. A vascular surgeon, Dr. Webster holds the Mark M. Ravitch Chair in Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) where he engages in clinical practice and research, with a primary interest in cerebrovascular and aortic aneurysm disease. A graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, he has served as president of the medical staff of UPMC Presbyterian and currently serves on the board of directors of UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside Hospital. Dr. Webster resides in Allegheny County.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority