Bermuda Hospitals Board has appointed Harlean Saunders-Fox as Vice President, Medical Staff Operations.

The post, previously called Vice President, Physician Relations', provides senior administrative support to the Chief of Staff office, oversees credentialing, clinical data, physician satisfaction surveys and reviews potential partnerships with local physicians.

Bermudian Ms Saunders-Fox joined the BHB 22 years ago as a Staff Pharmacist. Following subsequent promotions to the positions of Pharmacy Buyer and then Pharmacy Manager, Ms Saunders-Fox was appointed as Acting Director for Support Services in 2004, with responsibility for Pharmacy, Diagnostic Imaging, Pathology, Dietary, Laundry and Environmental Services.

In 2007, she was appointed Vice President, Decision Support, where she introduced new data and budgeting systems and collated data for reporting and planning healthcare and mental health services.

Ms Saunders-Fox has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Allen University in South Carolina, a Pharmacy Diploma from Barbados Community College and a Masters in Human Resources and Labour Relations from Webster University.

She said: "I'm excited to take up this new challenge in the Chief of Staff Office. Our medical staff has a major impact on patient care, and I'm looking forward to continuing the improvements and new partnerships that are being developed with our local physicians."