Robert Alan Frank, M.D., has been appointed chief medical officer of the Wayne State University Physician Group and vice dean for clinical affairs at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Dr. Frank, a cardiothoracic surgeon, will begin July 1, 2011. He has held several positions at the Ochsner Medical Center's West Bank campus in New Orleans, including vice chairman of the advisory board, chief of quality improvement and utilization review, and medical director of the cardiovascular program. For many years he was a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine.

"Dr. Frank's strong leadership experience in nonprofit, academic and multispecialty health care systems will serve him well as he works to ensure WSUPG's clinical practice meets the highest standards of service, quality, safety, compliance and overall performance," said Dr. Valerie M. Parisi, president of WSUPG and dean of the School of Medicine. "He will also serve as the chief liaison among the clinical faculty and the dean's office, working to assure that our clinical activities are integrated and support the overall mission of the School of Medicine."

Administratively, Dr. Frank will work with WSUPG associate chief medical officers and School of Medicine department chairs in furthering initiatives in marketing, informatics, quality improvement, clinical operations, revenue cycle, hospital relations and expansion of clinical presence.

A native of Boston, Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and completed his surgical internship and residency at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. He completed cardiothoracic surgery fellowship training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.