Healthmap Solutions CEO Eric Reimer announced that Healthmap’s current Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Howard Shaps, will step into the role of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Richard Popiel, the current Chief Medical Officer, who came out of retirement to join the executive team two years ago, will now retire as planned at the end of 2022 and rejoin the Healthmap Board of Directors.
Dr. Shaps, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wellcare and Centene prior to joining Healthmap, is well- established within the Healthmap organization and across our provider, payer, and health system client partners, which allows for a smooth transition with this clinical leadership change. Mr. Reimer added, “In his role as Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Shaps has successfully transitioned our clinical model to one that is patient-centric, empathetic, and focused on slowing the progression of kidney disease, while also being a key contributor to our sales strategy.”
“Kidney disease is a healthcare imperative in the U.S. today, and I am thrilled to be in a position to influence an organization of Healthmap’s caliber and reach to make a difference for patients at every level in the kidney journey,” said Dr. Shaps. “I have tremendous respect and confidence in our organization, and I love working with the entire Healthmap clinical team on our industry-leading kidney health management solution, which recognizes the importance of collaborating with the provider to maximize clinical outcomes for our patients with CKD and ESRD.”
Click here for more on Dr. Shaps’s background.
After being a key contributing architect of Healthmap’s clinical strategy as the company’s Chief Medical Officer and contributing to Healthmap’s go-to-market growth strategy, which has resulted in Healthmap’s successful growth, currently managing ~125,000 CKD and ESRD members in 30 states, Richard Popiel, M.D. and MBA has announced his retirement as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Healthmap. Additionally, Dr. Popiel will rejoin Healthmap’s Board of Directors effective January 1, 2023.
As a key member of the executive leadership team, Dr. Popiel drove medical and clinical initiatives to improve care, quality, and outcomes for patients living with kidney disease while delivering the value-based results that are important to Healthmap’s Provider partners, Health Plans, and Health System clients. Additionally, Dr. Popiel’s 20-year career as a CMO with two reputable Blues Plans, as well as his active participation in many thought-leading organizations, provided Healthmap with market recognition and trust.
Starting as a valued member of the Board of Directors for Healthmap in 2019, Dr. Popiel introduced his passion for the endemic issues related to CKD and ESRD and his desire to help Healthmap change the paradigm related to kidney management today. Dr. Popiel has been a healthcare industry trailblazer who has distinguished himself as a clinical leader throughout his career and helped Healthmap improve the clinical management model in 2021.
“When I became CEO of Healthmap two years ago, I asked Dr. Popiel if he would come out of retirement and join me on the Healthmap executive team,” said Mr. Reimer. “I was delighted that he agreed to come on board for a period of time to help accelerate our growth and further develop our clinical model.
“Dr. Popiel has been a great addition to our executive team with his ability to help develop and advance Healthmap’s innovative and value-driven solutions,” Mr. Reimer continued. “He has made a clear and measurable contribution to Healthmap’s ability to successfully deliver our Kidney Health Management program through early identification, slowing disease progression, reducing crashing to dialysis, optimizing renal replacement therapy, and reducing Emergency Room visits, hospital admissions and readmissions.”