CoxHealth selects chief medical officer for Springfield, Monett

CoxHealth has named a physician with 17 years of clinical experience as chief medical officer for the health system's Springfield and Monett hospitals.

Dr. Frank Romero, who joined CoxHealth in 2002 as the system's first hospitalist, was selected for the job. He replaces Dr. Dan Sontheimer, who accepted a position with Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Fla., after two years holding the leadership role at CoxHealth and working with the organization since 2003, said CoxHealth spokeswoman Stacy Fender. According to a Baptist Health Care news release, Sontheimer joined the organization in January to serve as chief clinical transformation officer and senior vice president.

Romero had served as medical director of CoxHealth's Springfield Inpatient Physicians group. During his tenure, the group grew to 43 providers caring for hospitalized patients at CoxHealth's north and south Springfield hospitals and its Meyer Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, according to a news release.

Dr. Mark Entrup, who has been part of the hospitalist group since 2004 and was assistant medical director, has been tapped to fill the medical director position of Springfield Inpatient Physicians, the release said.