Julie L. Novak Named Executive Director of Michigan State Medic...( EAST LANSING Mich. Jan. 29 -- Julie ...),Health

EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Julie L. Novak has been named Executive Director of the East Lansing-based Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) effective immediately, the MSMS Board of Directors announced today.

Novak, 46, who served the past year as MSMS Acting Executive Director, succeeds Kevin A. Kelly who passed away in December after a year-long illness. Kelly served 29 years at MSMS, including the past three years as executive director.

"Julie Novak was unanimously selected by the Board from a field of excellent local and national candidates. The Board has complete confidence that she will continue the tradition of excellence in leadership that our organization has enjoyed for many, many years," said Gregory J. Forzley, MD, chair of the 44-member MSMS Board.

Founded in 1866, MSMS represents more than 16,000 physicians in all specialties across Michigan.

Novak joined MSMS in 1990 and has served in a variety of positions relating to health care delivery and medical economics. Since 2007, she also served as Director of Operations under Kelly.

Novak holds a Master of Health Services Administration degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health as well as a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the James Madison College at Michigan State University.

"Julie Novak has more than two decades of experience in health care policy issues that will serve our organization well," said MSMS President Michael A. Sandler, MD. "She knows the issues facing physicians and their patients and has the leadership skills necessary to address those challenges effectively."

In 2007, Novak received an MSMS Presidential Citation for her outstanding staff support of the MSMS Future of Medicine initiative that involved all stakeholders in Michigan's health care delivery system a
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