Dear Colleagues-Friends,

It is our great pleasure to share that Dr. Bruce Mathern the current vice chair, Department of Neurosurgery will serve as our AVP for Managed Care for the VCU Health System.

Partnering with Penny Trentham, vice president of Managed Care and Payer Relations, Bruce will serve as a key player in developing a payer strategy that aligns VCU Health System’s vision and core competencies. He will work to ensure the operational and financial success of the VCUHS clinical enterprise in all contractual relationships with commercial payers, Medicare and Medicaid managed health plans, Workers compensation, and the Virginia Department of Corrections and city/county regional jails.

Additionally, Bruce will be assisting with education, strategy and roll out of physician expectations related to pay for value components and collaborating with clinical leaders on quality based metrics and identification of opportunities. His work will include collaborating with the chief impact officer on population health initiatives related to commercial contract opportunities.

“Bruce has served as Chair of the health system’s Managed Care and Contracting Committee since 2013. I am extremely excited for the opportunity to continue working with Bruce first and foremost on our clinical contractual arrangements and in further preparing our health system for new reimbursement models currently on the horizon,” said Penny Trentham.

A neurosurgery faculty member since 1996, Bruce has focused on Complex Spine Surgery and has a robust research program in the area of traumatic brain injury. Bruce completed his undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University and attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine.

Additionally, Bruce is a graduate of our Neurosurgery residency program and earned a Master’s of Science in Health Administration (MSHA), from VCU’s College of Health Professions. He has served on the VCU Health System Authority Board of Directors since 2012, including a long term role on the Finance Committee. Bruce was involved with the establishment of Aires Insurance, VCU Health System’s captive insurance company, and serves on the Board of Directors.

Please congratulate Bruce and welcome him to this new role.

With all good wishes,

Peter F. Buckley, M.D.
Dean, VCU School of Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, VCU Health System

Penny Trentham
Vice President of Managed Care and Payer Relations
VCU Health System

Melinda S. Hancock, CPA, FHFMA
Chief Administrative & Financial Officer
VCU Health System