Albany Med Health System Adds Three Veteran Health Care Executives to Leadership Team
New roles will enhance innovation, transformation, and collaboration across the System
Albany Med Health System President and CEO Daniel T. Pickett III announced today three new appointments to the System leadership team. Tony James, Gregg Meyer, MD, and Steven M. Frisch, MD, will work across the System to enhance innovation, transformation, and collaboration.
“Each of these leaders has tremendous experience in the business of health care and in enterprise transformation and strategy,” Pickett said. “Their collective expertise will be invaluable as we guide the System through its next phase of growth.”
Tony James Named Executive Vice President of Strategy, Transformation, and Corporate Development
A veteran health care executive, Tony James has spent his career expanding and advancing world-renowned large, complex organizations through strategic problem-solving and the development of innovative solutions. As executive vice president of strategy, transformation, and corporate development, James will focus on executing strategy, advancing system transformation, and leading key growth and partnership initiatives for the Albany Med Health System.
“Tony James brings deep experience developing and supporting enterprise strategy, large-scale system transformation, and complex clinical and physician partnerships within academic health systems,” said Pickett. “His insights into translating strategy to execution, expanding access, addressing capacity and integration challenges, and building durable operating models across diverse care settings will be critical to the Albany Med Health System’s long-term performance and sustainability in an ever more complex and evolving environment.”
Most recently, James served as senior vice president, clinical mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships and network development for Mass General Brigham. There, he led the enterprise-wide function, driving all domestic clinical mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships for the $20 billion academic health system, and creating a network that would grow to encompass more than 300 department or service line agreements, ultimately generating more than $1.5 billion in revenue for the 12-hospital health system. He also spearheaded a multi-year, multi-pronged ambulatory surgery strategy, developed a post-acute network strategy to address capacity challenges, and collaborated with the digital team to extend technology platforms and solutions to enhance patient care, quality and safety, and provider experience.
Previously, James spent nearly 15 years with Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, where he founded the network development department where his roles culminated as the senior vice president of network development and integration. During his time there, he developed strategies to expand MGH’s geographic reach, conceived and implemented the branding approach for its network of more than 15 affiliates, co-led the expansion of telehealth, and guided the integration of four community hospitals into the system.
“The Albany Med Health System is renowned in the Capital Region and beyond for its quality of care and the clinical expertise of its providers,” said James. “As the System continues to evolve and mature, I’m looking forward to developing and implementing strategies and solutions that will ensure we can continue to offer the highest quality and most efficient care to best serve the people of our communities and everyone who needs our services.”
James earned a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in health policy and science and technology policy from Harvard Kennedy School. He earned his undergraduate degree in human biology and political science from Stanford University.
Gregg Meyer, MD, Named Senior Clinical and Strategic Advisor
Gregg Meyer, MD ’86, is a practicing primary care physician and experienced health care executive with expertise in delivery system and payer strategy, clinical medicine, operations, quality improvement, health care information technology, health policy, medical education, and population health. As the System’s senior clinical and strategic advisor, Dr. Meyer will provide support and consultation in areas including quality and patient safety, clinical integration, capacity and access, and growth initiatives.
“Gregg is a national leader in quality, patient safety, population health, and value-based care,” said Pickett. “His expertise in the complex clinical issues facing modern academic health systems will be instrumental in helping us as we advance the System’s priorities.”
Most recently, Dr. Meyer oversaw the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ response to the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, coordinating the work of state and federal agencies, legal teams, public health officials, local government officials, and community leaders to ensure continued access to care. He previously served as chief clinical officer at Mass General Brigham in Boston and Dartmouth-Hitchcock in New Hampshire, president of the Mass General Brigham Community Division and executive vice president for Value-Based Care, and director of the Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
A graduate of Albany Medical College, Dr. Meyer earned a master’s degree in human biology from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He also holds a master’s degree from the Department of Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to driving innovation in health care delivery and value-based care and to delivering high-quality, safe, affordable, patient-centered care,” said Dr. Meyer. “I’m looking forward to bringing that same commitment to the Albany Med Health System as we work to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable and to enhance patient care for all.”
Steven M. Frisch, MD, Named Senior Strategic Advisor
After a decades-long career at Albany Medical Center caring for patients and paving the way toward the Albany Med Health System’s formation, Steven M. Frisch, MD ’79, retired in 2022 as senior executive vice president for the integrated delivery system. Returning to the System as senior strategic advisor, Dr. Frisch will now offer guidance and support in system integration as well as identifying potential growth opportunities.
“Dr. Frisch played a foundational role in strengthening regional partnerships, advancing integration well before it formally existed,” said Pickett. “An internist by training and a system thinker by nature, he brings deep institutional knowledge, trusted regional relationships, and a clear, patient-centered perspective.”
“I’ve been pleased to see the important strides the System has made in integrating operations over the past several years,” said Dr. Frisch. “I’m honored to return to help guide the next chapter of integration and collaboration that will ensure broader resources for patients and the long-term sustainability of the System.”