Turnbull Named CIO of the Year

Jim Turnbull, CIO at University of Utah Health Care (UUHC), is the recipient of the CHIME-HIMSS 2012 John E. Gall, Jr. CIO of the Year Award.

The award recognizes healthcare IT executives who have made significant contributions to their organization and demonstrated innovative leadership through effective use of technology. It is named in honor of the late John E. Gall Jr., who initiated the implementation of the world’s first fully integrated medical information system at El Camino Hospital in the 1960s.

During his 37-year tenure in the industry, Turnbull led the deployment of EMRs and installation of CPOE at three different health systems with three different vendor products.

Prior to joining UUHC in 2008, he held CIO posts at The Children’s Hospital in Denver from 2000-2007 and at Sarasota Memorial Hospital from 1993-2000.

“Over the past three decades it has been amazing to watch the transition from paper to a digital world in the health care industry,” said Turnbull. “Today, it is equally exciting to see information management take center stage as we reshape our industry in response to consumer expectations, clinical innovation and health reform.”

Turnbull is a former Chair of the CHIME Board of Trustees and a Fellow and former president of HIMSS. He is a lifetime honorary member of HIMSS and has been a CHIME member since 1993. His academic background includes a BA in Organizational Psychology, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, and a DHA from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Under his leadership, The Children’s Hospital in Denver was recognized for its advancement of EMRs by KLAS as the Most Integrated Children’s Hospital in 2007.

“It is always an honor for HIMSS to recognize one of our members who has provided his leadership and expertise to the Society and the healthcare industry. Jim Turnbull fits this description,” said H. Stephen Lieber, president and CEO of HIMSS. “Congratulations to Jim for his ongoing contributions to improve healthcare delivery with the best use of health IT and management systems.”

CHIME President and CEO Richard Correll added, “No one is more deserving of this award than Jim. His long-standing career as a healthcare CIO is both exemplary and distinguished, and his record of progressive IT utilization will be valued far into the future. Jim’s personable, thoughtful style, combined with his commitment to supporting the effectiveness of HIT, characterizes what a great CIO he is. I am delighted that we are recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field with this prestigious award.”

Turnbull will receive the award at the 2013 Annual HIMSS Conference in New Orleans on March 5, 2013.