vRad Adds White House Fellow, Dr. Pat Basu, to Its Leadership Teams

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtual Radiologic (vRad) today announced that Pat Basu, M.D., M.B.A., will be joining its executive and radiologist leadership teams as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Basu has just completed a one-year term in President Obama's administration serving as a White House Fellow, America's most prestigious and selective program for national leadership and public service. Dr. Basu will play a critical role in advancing vRad's efforts, along with its radiologist and hospital partners, in expanding access, improving quality and reducing the total cost of care.

Before earning the esteemed Presidential appointment as a White House Fellow, Dr. Basu held faculty appointments at Stanford University where he also served as Course Director of Health Policy, Finance and Economics. He was a practicing radiologist at both Stanford University Medical Center and Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital. Dr. Basu serves on the RADPAC Board of Directors for the American College of Radiology. Dr. Basu received his medical doctorate and a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago, as well as a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois.

A highly acclaimed thought leader in health policy and economics, Dr. Basu has lectured nationally and internationally on these subjects and shared his industry expertise with members of Congress. Since completing his term as a White House Fellow, Dr. Basu has been invited to share his political experiences and policy expertise as the keynote speaker for several medical societies and businesses, as well as a visiting professor at several universities.

Dr. Basu has received national recognition for his clinical and leadership abilities. In 2007, he received the AMA's National Excellence in Medicine Award for Leadership and delivered the Dr. Feldman keynote address at the AMA national meeting. In 2009, he was named the Consultant Physician of the Year at Stanford, and in 2011, he was recognized with a distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

"I am thrilled Pat is joining the vRad leadership team as Chief Medical Officer and practicing radiologist," said Rob Kill, vRad's Chief Executive Officer. "As we focus on advancing radiology, having Pat's knowledge and expertise will be a significant factor in our success."

"This is an incredibly dynamic time in healthcare," said Dr. Basu. "Policy reforms coupled with macro-level trends such as increased consumerism, changing demographics and economic pressures demand higher quality and better access to care while simultaneously lowering the cost of care. vRad's excellent physicians, innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology can lead this transformation by providing more effective and efficient delivery of world-class care. I am excited to help positively impact these needs in healthcare as a part of this forward-thinking leadership team at vRad."

About vRad

Virtual Radiologic (vRad) is a technology-enabled national radiology practice working in partnership with local radiologists and hospitals to optimize radiology's pivotal role in patient care. vRad's more than 400 radiologists serve 2,700+ facilities, reading 7 million studies annually. Delivering access to extensive subspecialty coverage, vRad contributes to improved quality of patient care. And with its next-generation technology, vRad enhances productivity, helping to lower the overall cost of care while expediting time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit www.vrad.com. For real-time updates, follow us on Twitter (@vRad), or "like" us on Facebook.

SOURCE Virtual Radiologic