David B. Pryor, MD
Chief Medical Officer

David B. Pryor, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer for Ascension Health. He collaborates with an outstanding team of physician, nursing and executive leaders at Ascension Health and leverages the system's clinical expertise, resources and information technology to advance the system's agenda and help Ascension Health become a premier spiritually-based partner for health.

Prior to joining Ascension Health, Dr. Pryor was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Allina Health System in Minneapolis, Minn. Prior to Allina, Dr. Pryor was President of the New England Medical Center Hospitals in Boston, Mass.

Dr. Pryor began his rise to prominence in clinical excellence at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., where he served as a practicing cardiologist and Director of the cardiology consultation service, the section of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the Duke Database for Cardiovascular Disease, and clinical program development. In his 15 years at Duke, Dr. Pryor chaired numerous committees including the Patient Care Subcommittee, the Duke University Heart Center Database Committee, the Quality Care Task Force and the Medical Center Computer Advisory Committee.

Dr. Pryor has served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Medical Quality, the American Journal of Managed Care, the International Journal of Cardiology, Cardiology Emergency Decisions, and as a reviewer for numerous other medical journals. He has authored more than 250 publications and has been the principal investigator of a number of significant research investigations.

Dr. Pryor also has participated on numerous national and international committees including the Earnest Codman Awards Committee (JCAHO National Quality Awards, 1997-1999); The Advisory Council for Performance Measurement for the Joint Commission (1995 - present, chairman 1998-2003), the national scientific session committees for the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 2000 Spring Congress, the American College of Cardiology, 1991-92, and the American Heart Association, 1994-96. He was listed as one of Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Powerful Persons in Healthcare in 2002 and 2005, and as one of Modern Healthcare's 50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in 2005 and 2006. He received the CareScience Executive Leadership Award in 2006.

In addition to his position at Ascension Health, Dr. Pryor currently holds several academic appointments including Consulting Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center and Adjunct Professor at St. Louis University School of Public Health.

Dr. Pryor is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Mich., and he completed his medical internship and residency at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, and his fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

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