Paul Shields, DO, has been named interim chief medical officer (CMO) for Great Lakes Integrated Network (GLIN).
GLIN, formed as Optimum Physicians Alliance in 2012, is a Buffalo-based, physician-led independent physicians association (IPA) consisting of approximately 600 physicians in the areas of primary and specialty care. The mission of GLIN as a Clinically Integrated Network is to work as a community of providers to accelerate smart, patient-centered, and value-based medicine, with the goal of building a healthier WNY community. They do this through network-wide data-sharing and providing services to all of our community-based providers and the patient population served by GLIN network providers.
As interim CMO, Dr. Shields will lead the organization’s efforts to work collaboratively with physicians to understand the struggles practices face and strive to provide the resources needed to meet the growing challenges of this industry. Many of the resources and services provided by GLIN are geared towards supporting practice transformation, enhancing the patient experience, reducing administrative burdens, improving population health management and most importantly, promoting a more clinically integrated healthcare system in Western New York.
Dr. Shields will continue the work of the late David Hughes, MD, MPH, who served as CMO of GLIN before his untimely passing last month.
Dr. Shields most recently served as vice president of post-acute clinical services for General Physician, PC (GPPC), medical director of the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York and physician advisor for post-acute care for Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center.
Dr. Shields will continue to oversee the post-acute clinical services for GPPC during the evolving transition of leadership of the service line.
Dr. Shields received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in family medicine at MetroHealth Hospital in Erie, PA. He is a board-certified member of the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) as well as a member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, New York State Osteopathic Medical Society and Erie County Medical Society.