FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2010
Contact: AARP Media Relations, media@aarp.org, 202-434-2560
AARP Board Member Allen Douma Selected to Newly Created Health Advisory Group
WASHINGTON—Acting U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro today announced the selection of AARP Board Member Dr. Allen Douma to serve on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. As a member of the Institute, Dr. Douma will help consumers, Congress and the Administration address current and future health challenges.
The Institute will conduct critical health outcomes research and will publish its results, helping patients and doctors make better informed health care decisions by providing relevant information on how to best prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, disorders and other health conditions.
“As a voice for consumers – and as a medical doctor – I know that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to making important health care decisions,” said Dr. Douma. “This institute has the potential to provide patients and their doctors with the best possible information to make better decisions on what works for them, and I am honored to be chosen to serve.”
Dr. Douma spent most of his professional career developing and delivering programs that communicate health information to providers, patients and the general public. He is chief executive officer of Empower LLC. Previously, he served as assistant director of the Oregon Department of Human Services, chief executive officer of Health ResponseAbility Systems, medical director for Hartford and Travelers Insurance Cos., and director of Health Education for the American Medical Association. Dr. Douma developed and ran disease management programs and co-founded one of the first and most successful online health companies. Dr. Douma began his career as a rural, solo practitioner, later serving as a medical director of several companies and organizations, as well as Medicaid director for the state of Oregon. In addition, for several years he worked with the state of Oregon and AARP Oregon to communicate to the public the information generated by the Oregon Drug Effectiveness Review Project (DERP).
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