WHIA gets a facelift

The World Health Imaging Alliance (WHIA) has formally changed its name to World Health Imaging, Telemedicine and Informatics Alliance (WHITIA). In addition, the organization has expanded its mission to include the use of health informatics to provide access to trained medical professionals and improve healthcare delivery in the developing world.

WHITIA also announced that Newton N. Minow, senior counsel at Sidley Austin, will chair its board of directors.

"The inclusion of health informatics is a natural extension of our activities since the data and information that will be coming out of these clinical sites can be used to improve the delivery of healthcare services, as well as to inform health officials and funders of important public health trends and resource utilization patterns," said Ivy Walker, WHITIA's CEO.

In appointing Minow as board chairman, the organization is tapping an advocate for the expansion of telemedicine globally. A former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Minow has long championed the use of telecommunications technology in the delivery of healthcare.

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