FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Sheila Champlin - (901) 448-4957, schampli@uthsc.edu

Johannes J. van der Aa, PhD, Named Vice Chancellor for

Information Technology, Chief Information Officer at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Memphis, Tenn. (August 23, 2012) - Steve J. Schwab, MD, chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has announced the appointment of Johannes "Jan" J. van der Aa, PhD, as vice chancellor for Information Technology (IT) and chief information officer. Dr. van der Aa is currently the Assistant Vice President, Health Affairs and Director Educational Technologies for the UF&Shands, the University of Florida (UF) Academic Health Center. At UF, he is responsible for coordinating IT services and resources in support of six health sciences colleges, and five multi-disciplinary research institutes.

In his new role, Dr. van der Aa will be responsible for collaborating with the constituents of the six UTHSC colleges, associated research entities, and campus administration to direct and manage IT systems and services. He will also lead and coordinate UTHSC IT operations in tandem with the University of Tennessee System IT initiatives. By late September, he plans to be on the Memphis campus full time.

"Dr. van der Aa brings a tremendous amount of experience and insight to our organization," Chancellor Schwab observed. "He understands the special IT needs and requirements of complex health sciences institutions. Jan also has a proven ability to build strong, positive relationships. Those relationships are an integral element in supporting IT governance and in the efficient implementation of rapidly changing IT systems and processes. We look forward to welcoming Jan to our statewide campus community," he added.

Born in the Netherlands, Dr. van der Aa grew up in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. He earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands in 1978. He moved to Gainesville, Fla., in 1980 and joined the Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine at UF. There he became part of a multifaceted group of physicians, engineers, students, and staff known as Florida Anesthesia Computer and Engineering Team. The group was involved in interdisciplinary research in biomedical and health care technology, clinical and basic research, and education. Dr. van der Aa also managed departmental IT services and staff. In 1987, he earned a master's degree from the UF College of Engineering. Awarded in 1990, his PhD is in medical electrical engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Co-chairs of the 13-member search committee were Alicia Dorsey, PhD, director, Interprofessional Education and Clinical Simulation, and assistant vice chancellor for UTHSC Academic Affairs, and Mark Scarbecz, PhD, professor and director of Planning Assessment, Department of Bioscience Research, UTHSC College of Dentistry. Parker Executive Search assisted in identifying and screening candidates.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service. In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrated its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care. Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The UTHSC campus in Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit. In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit. Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state. For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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Johannes "Jan" van der Aa, PhD, Vice Chancellor for IT & CIO at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

This study quantifies the economic impact of the UTHSC on the economy of the state of Tennessee for FY2010.

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