Chirine Chehab
Atlanta
Summary
Seasoned professional with extensive leadership in Healthcare, Public Health, and Data Science. Recipient of the prestigious Alumni Award from the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Proven track record in driving quality improvement, data-driven decision-making, and advancing public health initiatives. Passionate about leveraging expertise to improve patients health outcomes and operational efficiencies.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Public Health Informatics Fellow
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
2022.08 - Current
- Perform the duties of a health scientist with knowledge in areas such as health information systems, public health, epidemiology, health, and health care programs
- Provides scientific advice in coordinating and maintaining public health informatics project goals, objectives, and priorities within DSPD and in the general public health community
- Lead the Technical Assistance Pilot for the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) to standardize content data collection and harmonization
- Work closely with the lead of the two CDC Data Modernization Initiatives, the Making EHR Data More Available for Research and Public Health and the Adapting Clinical Guidelines for the Digital Age, both of which leverage the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) health IT standard
- Contribute and support the Health Care Survey (HCS) FHIR Pilot, Cancer Surveillance Reporting FHIR Pilot, the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) on FHIR project, and the Cervical Cancer Clinical Decision Support (CDS) project
- Perform documentation reviews and related research, including providing feedback on project deliverables
- Review the evaluation of the Hepatitis C surveillance use case and FHIR Implementation Guide (IG) that facilitates data exchange for both key patient-centered research questions and public health surveillance system requirements
- Conduct Risk of Bias (RoB) Assessments on a systematic review focused on drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives and anticonvulsant drugs with the CDC Division of Reproductive Health
- Lead an initiative to assess the quality of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) datasets in compliance with the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) to promote health equity and reduce disparities in health outcomes, using data science tools
- Assist the Chair of the Guidelines International Network North America (GIN NA) Chapter Steering Committee
- Facilitate the GIN North America Human-Centered Design (HCD) Workshop on 'Bringing Guidelines to the Digital Age' (April 2023)
- Lead the extension to the widely used GIN-McMaster Guideline Development Checklist for the Development and Implementation of Computable Guidelines using HCD approach
- Lead the Informatics Marketplace Development Proposal at the GIN NA post-workshop solutions testing
- Participate at the HL7 FHIR Public Health Workgroup, Helios Aggregate Data Workgroup, Helios Bulk Data Workgroup, and Helios Align and Optimize Workgroup that are bodies within HL7 that take on the responsibility of developing and maintaining standards.
Executive Director of Supply Chain and Logistics
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2021.05 - 2022.05
- Administer medical center’s supply chain logistics together with oversight of materials management, purchasing and pharmacy operations
- Conduct and execute fiscal operations, such as accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting
- Prepare activity reports to inform Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the status and implementation plans of programs, services, and quality initiatives
- Analyse expenditures and other financial information to develop plans, policies, or budgets for increasing profits and improving services
- Review and analyse facility activities and data to aid planning and risk management and to improve service utilization
- Design and implement improvements to internal or external systems and processes
- Maintained hospital operations, including services and surgeries, during Lebanon economic and financial crisis, Beirut port blast, and Covid-19 pandemic, when drugs, medications, lab reagents, medical supplies, and fuel were all missing
- Initiated and led strategies to secure critically short supplies during crisis by forming collaborations with local and external stakeholders to identify alternative supplies, suppliers, and sources
- Addressed critical supply-chain challenges by adapting processes and leveraging analytics
- Managed vendors and contract negotiations
- Saved 2% of a $2M operating budget through careful optimization of procurement process linking objectives to end results such as life-saving and critical supplies shortage reduction and combining priority setting and demand fulfilment as criteria for resource allocation during unprecedented emergencies and crisis.
Executive Clinical Support Units Director
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2020.07 - 2022.05
- Oversee operations of the Medical Center Clinical Departments
- Establish and implement departmental strategies, policies, goals and objectives in conjunction with Medical Center Executive Team ensuring high levels of patient care
- Monitor financial, operational and quality metrics to ensure efficient and effective provision of services within budgetary limits
- Recommend and initiate changes to systems and processes related to clinical procedures
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Worked closely with the President, CEO and Executive Leadership Team to develop a shared vision for the future of the organization, built a sustainable business model around the current mission and developed appropriate policies, programs goals and short and intermediate term strategies to advance the revenue and funding sources within the different programs and clinical departments
- Provided effective leadership and motivation to more than 1200 staff
- Demonstrated a sense of innovation and creativity in managing the most effective operations and maximizing impact on patients’ lives and the community
- Led, defined, and tracked key performance indicators (KPIs) in an executive healthcare dashboard to monitor performance and ensure evidence-based decision-making using data visualization
- Worked closely with the CEO and the Chief Financial Officer in establishing budget priorities, analyzing programs, services and financial results while developing integrated financial models during Lebanon economic crisis and financial collapse
- Worked closely with the Executive Director of Quality, Accreditation, and Risk Management and other leaders on the Joint Commission International (JCI), Magnet, and College of American Pathologists (CAP) Accreditation
- Established strategies to mitigate staffing shortages through cross-training, cross-coverage, motivation, and business process redesign
- Fostered and maintained effective working relationships with Chairpersons and Directors and engaged leaders and team enterprise-wide to design and implement initiatives that moved strategic success plan forward
- Assessed staffing considerations for surge planning and emergency response
- Substantially increased revenues of molecular lab by 97% through the introduction of a PCR drive through service, the first in Lebanon
- Significantly reduced staff overtime costs by 91%
- Led Emergency Department Business Process Reengineering Taskforce in developing action plans and streamlining processes to enhance the patient experience, reduce costs and improve efficiency
- Improved patient waiting time in the Emergency Department by 44%.
Clinical Department Administrator, Department of Radiation Oncology
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2015.11 - 2020.06
- Provided departmental leadership formulating and delivering strategies to maintain a competitive advantage
- Administered activities related to the expansion and outreach affiliation projects and programs with various external institutions
- Monitored and analysed operations to evaluate performance of department and its staff in meeting objectives and to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change
- Led the launching of EPIC and its successful integration into the medical center health systems
- Saved US$54K per annum through the establishment of a paperless workflow to streamline health records documentation and ensure effective, safe, and efficient care
- Improved discharge summary turnaround time to positively impact patient care and reduce administrative burden
- Developed strategic planning initiatives related to service affiliation and expansion in south Lebanon
- Established Radiotherapists Career Ladder and Development program to motivate and develop staff skills.
Clinical Department Administrator, Department of Diagnostic Radiology
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2010.10 - 2015.10
- Direct and plan objectives and activities of department to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, and to increase productivity
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs
- Coordinate human resources activities, such as the approval of human resource plans and activities, and the selection of staff
- Increased department revenues by 135% over a 4-year period and reduced expenses through efficient process performance
- Significantly reduced discrepancies in the supply inventory from 74% to only 2.7%
- Pioneered the first one stop shop enhancing patient experience and satisfaction
- Introduced a career ladders and development program for over 65 employees
- Designed a new electronic order for physicians including a paperless communication system involving multiple stakeholders.
Executive Officer, Children’s Cancer Institute
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2005.06 - 2010.09
- Provide high-level administrative support by assisting Director and ensuring smooth operations
- Coordinate and direct center’s services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, and personnel issues
- Planned and controlled workflow
- Supervise and train other staff
- Manage research projects
- Conducted accurate cost analysis of childhood cancer treatments over a 7-year period
- Completed outpatient facility renovation and inpatient unit expansion
- Orchestrated volunteers’ program to help and support the lives of patients and their families.
Education
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Global Health Leadership -
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana08.2022
Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Management and Policy -
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon06.2005
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Analytical Chemistry -
Beirut Arab University
Beirut, Lebanon09.2002
Skills
- Budgeting and Financial Management
- Business Process Reengineering
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
- Course Development
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-cultural competency
- Data Science with Python and R
- Effective Communication
- Emotional Intelligence
- Global Health
- Health IT Standards: United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI), Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
- Healthcare Leadership
- Human Resources Management
- Leadership
- Microsoft Office
- Mentoring and coaching
- Policy Planning, Development, and Analysis
- Problem solving
- Program Design and Evaluation
- Project Management
- Public Health
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research
- Strategic Planning
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Scientific Writing
Certification
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
Awards
· Recipient of the Delta Omega Honorary Society Award for Alumni, Gamma Delta Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon, April 2019
· Nominee for the Service Excellence Award, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, April 2019
· Nominee for the Operation Efficiency Award, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, May 2015
· Nominee for the Operation Efficiency Award, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, May 2014
Affiliations
- Member & Potential Candidate for Fellowship, American College of HealthCare Executives (ACHE)
- Member, Indiana University Alumni
- Member, American University of Beirut (AUB) Worldwide Alumni
- Member, the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University
- Member, Society for Radiation Oncology Administrators (SROA)
Publications
- Kaddoum R, Aouad M, Chehab C, Siddik S, Karam C, Bou Ali A, Anghelescu D. Randomized crossover study comparing the first attempt success rate of intravenous cannulation in children using the AccuVein AV 300 apparatus versus the standard technique. Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology 2018 Jun.
- Geara F, Eid T, Zeidan Y, Zouain N, Thebian R, Andraos T, Chehab C, Ramia P, Youssef B. Randomized, Prospective, Open-Label Phase III Trial Comparing Mebo Ointment With Biafine Cream For The Management of Acute Dermatitis During Radiotherapy For Breast Cancer. American Journal of Clinical Oncology 2018 Jun.
- Mekdash H, Shahine B, Jalbout W, Chehab C, Abdel Khalek H, Youssef B. A simple technique for an accurate shielding of the lungs during total body irradiation. Journal of Technical Innovations & Patient Support in Radiation Oncology 2017; 3–4: 13–18.
Languages
Arabic
Native or Bilingual
English
Full Professional
French
Full Professional
Timeline
Public Health Informatics Fellow
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
2022.08 - Current
Executive Director of Supply Chain and Logistics
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2021.05 - 2022.05
Executive Clinical Support Units Director
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2020.07 - 2022.05
Clinical Department Administrator, Department of Radiation Oncology
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2015.11 - 2020.06
Clinical Department Administrator, Department of Diagnostic Radiology
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2010.10 - 2015.10
Executive Officer, Children’s Cancer Institute
American University of Beirut Medical Center
2005.06 - 2010.09
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Global Health Leadership -
Indiana University
Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Management and Policy -
American University of Beirut
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Analytical Chemistry -
Beirut Arab University
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
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