Ever since PeaceHealth began focusing on the medical group as a strategic line of business, our plans have included marketing communications leadership to specifically support the group. This vital role will play a significant part in helping us get to the next level of integration.

I'm pleased to announce that PHMG now has a director who will be guiding us in this area. Tim Strickland, the director of PeaceHealth's Communications Center of Excellence, will wear two hats--one to help PHMG with integrated marketing communications and the other to continue overseeing communications for the entire system. In addition, the medical group will continue to have a dedicated communication specialist with support from other members of both local and shared marketing communication teams.

PeaceHealth began a few years ago to create Shared Services to help our exceptional people build common platforms and tools that can be leveraged by all of our caregivers and facilities.

We're grateful the medical group is the beneficiary of the early fruit of these efforts. With the impending launch of our first strategic plan, the timing of this addition couldn't be better.