Rick Reifenberg, MD Named HealthNet’s Chief Medical Officer
Varon Cantrell, MD Named Associate Medical Director
12/30/2018
After a national search, HealthNet has named Rick Reifenberg, MD, as the organization’s new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective January 1, 2019.
He succeeds Donald Trainor, MD, FAAP, FACP, who retired from the role in December 2018 after 14 years as CMO of one of the state’s largest federally qualified health centers. HealthNet provides care annually to more than 60,920 uninsured and underinsured patients in Marion County and beyond through its growing network of nine primary care health centers and several outreach programs. Continuing his 28 years of service with HealthNet in various roles, Dr. Trainor will serve as a primary care provider and coordinate provider recruitment part-time beginning in 2019.
Along with Dr. Reifenberg’s appointment, Varon Cantrell, MD, has been named HealthNet’s new Associate Medical Director, effective January 1, 2019. He will work closely with Dr. Reifenberg as they provide clinical leadership for more than 150 physicians, advanced practice nurses, therapists, dentists and other providers at HealthNet.
“We were fortunate to have such strong internal candidates with exceptional clinical and leadership skills and a passion for providing great care for the patients we serve,” said Rick Diaz, President/CEO. “I am confident that Dr. Reifenberg and Dr. Cantrell will be a great fit for HealthNet as CMO and Associate Medical Director.”
An internal medicine/pediatrics physician, Dr. Reifenberg joined HealthNet in 2000. For his first ten years at HealthNet, Dr. Reifenberg worked as a primary care physician at HealthNet Southwest Health & Dental Center as well as being involved in resident education while serving as a volunteer faculty member for the Indiana University School of Medicine.
He was the lead physician in HealthNet’s initial Electronic Medical Record implementation in 2009 and subsequently became the main clinical interface between HealthNet’s medical providers and its EMR technical support staff. As a result of this work, he has been invited to speak at numerous state and national professional meetings regarding HealthNet’s innovative and effective use of its EMR.
Dr. Reifenberg became HealthNet’s first Associate Medical Director in 2011, working closely with Dr. Trainor. He was named Chief Medical Information Officer in 2018, providing leadership for HealthNet’s Information Systems and Electronic Medical Records departments.
Dr. Reifenberg earned his undergraduate degree is from Indiana University in Bloomington and his medical degree is from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine/pediatrics residency at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in 2000 and has ongoing board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. In 2018 he completed the necessary coursework and medical leadership capstone to become a Certified Physician Executive through the American Association of Physician Leadership.
Dr. Reifenberg is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Association for Physician Leadership. and is a past chairman of the Preventative Health Committee for the Indiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is on the board of directors for Stopover, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves homeless youth in central Indiana. He has also been involved in international medical work as well, joining other HealthNet providers on several annual mission trips to South America (Bolivia).
Dr. Cantrell joined HealthNet in 2010 as a primary care physician at Southwest Health & Dental Center. He provided physician leadership for the opening of HealthNet West Health Center in 2012 and oversaw its dramatic growth, adding services and providers. Located in a renovated Blockbuster building, the health center on the near Westside of Indianapolis provides primary care to a community that until 2012 had seen a decrease in medical Providers and had struggled to obtain adequate access to medical care. More than 60% of the service area population is low-income, living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Dr. Cantrell served as Provider Co-Leader at West Health Center until becoming Associate Medical Director and continues to see patients there.
Dr. Cantrell became HealthNet’s first Primary Care Service Line Physician Leader in 2017 and continues to lead initiatives focused on improving patient access while delivering high quality, efficient care.
Dr. Cantrell earned his bachelor’s degree biology and chemistry from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, IN and his medical degree is from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN. He completed an Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency at the University of Cincinnati Department of Internal Medicine Veterans Affairs Hospital, serving as Chief Medical Resident. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He has served as a Preceptor for Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program since 2011.
Dr. Cantrell is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Association for Physicians in Leadership and is very active in the Indianapolis community. He has been married for 17 years and has five children.
Since 1968, HealthNet (www.indyhealthnet.org) has been a mainstay in the Indianapolis community. Through its network of nine community-based health centers, seven school-based clinics, and numerous outreach programs, HealthNet annually serves over 60,920 individuals – many of whom are uninsured or underinsured and live below the federal poverty level. HealthNet’s comprehensive primary care services include pediatrics, OB/GYN, adult medicine, behavioral health, dental care, lab, radiology, optometry, health education, nutrition counseling, social work services, access to discounted prescriptions as well as the Homeless Initiative Program, Healthy Families and other outreach programs. programs. HealthNet's health centers include Barrington Health & Dental Center, Martindale-Brightwood Health Center, Northeast Health Center, People's Health & Dental Center, Southeast Health & Dental Center, Southwest Health & Dental Center, West Health Center, the Care Center at the Tower, the Pediatric and Adolescent Care Center.