The Arkansas Health Network (AHN), a physician-led, clinically integrated network (CIN) serving Arkansas patients, providers, and employers, announced that Lubna Maruf, MD, has been appointed as its new chief medical officer and vice president. Maruf will oversee all aspects of clinical quality improvement, provider engagement efforts, performance in quality metrics across the network, and provide medical leadership for AHN’s strategic initiatives.
“We’re blessed to add Dr. Maruf’s commitment and incredible expertise in the field of value-based healthcare and quality improvement to the growing work we’re doing to improve patient and provider experiences and reduce healthcare costs in Arkansas,” said AHN President and CEO Bob Sarkar. “She is truly a citizen diplomat, bringing some of the best insights and ideas in this field from around the world back here to benefit our state.”
With the rising cost of healthcare growing as a concern for employers across Arkansas, AHN partnered with Arkansas Children’s Care Network and NextHealth Integrated Network to provide a healthcare delivery model designed specifically for employers. The model leverages technology and big data to pre-emptively identify high-risk and rising risk patients and then connects them with a multidisciplinary care team of registered nurse health coaches, social workers, pharmacists, and others to proactively manage their care with an emphasis on preventive, rather than reactive services.
“The work accomplished by the team at Arkansas Health Network and CHI St. Vincent over these past few years shows what’s possible and we are just getting started as we build a better healthcare system for our state that others will want to emulate across the country,” said Maruf. “Their success so far is proof of what can be accomplished when you open your mind and rethink healthcare.”
Maruf previously served as medical director for Centene/QualChoice Health Insurance based in Little Rock. She has also served as adjunct faculty for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with their residency training program. Maruf holds a medical degree from Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. She received an internal medicine fellowship from Michael Reese Hospital at the University of Illinois in Chicago and has an MBA degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.