CVS appointed Tilak Mandadi as its first chief data, digital, and technology officer, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Illinois, Rhode Island, and Texas.

• Illinois: The American Hospital Association's (AHA) Institute for Diversity and Health Equity on Thursday announced that Mount Sinai Health System will receive the 2022 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care (EOC) Award. In addition, AHA will recognize two honorees—Novant Health and Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson Health. The annual award recognizes extraordinary efforts by hospitals and health care systems that have made strides in advancing EOC for all patients. According to AHA, Mount Sinai was selected as the 2022 winner for being a leader in health equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. In particular, the health system's Road Map for Action provides detailed plans to foster change by eliminating health disparities and racism. "The Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care award spotlights hospitals and health systems that are working outside their own four walls to reduce health disparities," said Rick Pollack, AHA's president and CEO. "This year's honorees have used creativity to foster strong community partnerships, recruit individuals for their workforce from underrepresented groups and build trust and understanding with diverse populations." (AHA release, 7/7)

• Rhode Island: CVS appointed Tilak Mandadi as its first chief data, digital, and technology officer—a new C-suite role that will oversee the company's technology leaders while prioritizing technology strategy and business growth. Mandadi, who previously served as the chief strategy, innovation, and technology officer at MGM Resorts International, will officially step into the role on July 25. In the newly created role, Mandadi will be an EVP and report directly to CVS president and CEO Karen Lynch. Before CVS created the role, the company's technology leadership was split between the president of data and analytics, the chief information security officer, the chief information officer, the SVP of digital engineering and architecture, and the SVP of digital products, user experience, and operations. According to Lynch, this new role was created to help form a more integrated approach to technology. "I look at this as a big opportunity to make the connections across the organization in ways that can really distinguish us and differentiate us with that consumer," Lynch said. (Bousquette, Wall Street Journal, 7/8)

• Texas: Memorial Hermann last week named Giridhar Vedala as the new VP and regional CMO of two hospitals. In his new role, Vedala will oversee clinical operations at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. Vedala, who previously served as the physician lead for Memorial Hermann Medical Group Cardiology, currently serves on the executive leadership committee of the health system's heart and vascular service line and sits on several clinical program committees. (Gleeson, Becker's Hospital Review, 7/7)