Jacob Reider will serve as Acting National Coordinator for ONC and Principal Deputy National Coordinator David Muntz has announced he will leave ONC.
In an email to ONC staff obtained by FierceHealthIT, outgoing National Coordinator Farzad Mostashari says that Reider (right), the current director of the ONC's Office of the Chief Medical Officer, will take over his new role on Oct. 4. Lisa Lewis, Deputy National Coordinator for Operations, will serve as Acting Principal Deputy.
"David Muntz and I have been honored to work together leading this exceptional organization, and we will be departing together, as well," Mostashari said in an email to staff last night. "David informed me several weeks ago of his decision to return to the private sector to work more closely on the front-lines of medicine, but I asked him to hold off on any announcement until we could complete the transition planning."
Muntz, in an email to ONC staffers, called his time at ONC "a privilege."
"The goals and objectives of our diverse and important activities helped me understand and accept the challenges, and then embrace them," Muntz said. "I was sustained by the spirit and talent that I encountered every step along the way. You've heard me say on several occasions that I've never seen such a group of dedicated leaders and staff. It is heartwarming and ... pleasing to have worked with all of the federal staff and to represent the providers and patients in the private and public sector who are pulling and pushing us toward a very promising future where the collective efforts will benefit the nation and the world. The people and the progress are awe inspiring."
Reider is a family physician who has more than two decades of experience working in the health IT industry. In her current role, Lewis helps to set the strategic direction for ONC initiatives related to program integrity, budget formulation and execution. Neither were available for comment.
Mostashari announced last month that he would leave ONC in the fall; his last day will be Oct. 5.
For more information:
- here's Mostashari's letter
- here's Muntz's letter