Executives
Debra L. Uhl
Chief Operating Officer
Debra Uhl is the Chief Operating Officer for Indiana University Health University Hospital. She is responsible for the efficient and effective operations of the hospital. She functions as the IU Health executive responsible for the IU Health Pathology Laboratory. Debra has been part of the IU Health leadership team since IU Health's inception in January of 1997. She has had a variety of administrative responsibilities as an IU Health vice president, on both the IU Health Methodist Hospital and IU Health University Hospital campuses. Debra provided the oversight for the program planning and implementation of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center; a 450,000 square foot facility that is attached to IU Health University Hospital.
Prior to the formation of IU Health, Debra was associate director of hospitals for IU Health University Hospital; responsible for numerous programs, departments and services that covered both IU Health University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. From 1979-1989, Debra was an associate hospital administrator at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. She spent one year at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN; and she was also an assistant health planner at Min-Dak HSA.
Debra did her undergraduate work at Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota with a double major in Health Administration and Sociology. She received her master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Debra currently serves on two boards of directors.
Herbert Cushing, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Herbert E. Cushing, MD is the chief medical officer for IU Health University Hospital, associate dean of students affairs for the Indiana University School of Medicine and medical director for the Indiana University Medical Group.
Specializing in infectious diseases, Dr. Cushing came to Indiana University Medical School in 1992, as an assistant professor. Since the formation of IU Health, Dr. Cushing has served as medical director of IUMG, clinical associate professor of IUSM, associate dean of medical student affairs and chief medical officer of IU Health University Hospital.
Dr. Cushing received his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his medical degree from the State University of New York-Upstate. He completed his residency at the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville and his fellowship at the University of Washington, Seattle.
In addition to over a dozen publications, Dr. Cushing has been honored with the Indiana University School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, as well as a Fellow, American College of Physicians.
Diane Thompson, MS, RN
Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services
Diane J. Thompson, MS, RN, joined the executive ranks at IU Health in September 2008 as Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services at IU Health University Hospital, where she serves as chief nursing officer.
A Hoosier native, Thompson received her bachelor's of science in nursing from the Indiana University School of Nursing and earned her master's degree in administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is pursuing her doctorate at the University of Kansas.
Thompson is recognized as a seasoned and progressive healthcare and nurse executive with a track record of success in diverse hospital and healthcare settings across the United States. Prior to assuming her role at IU Health, Thompson served as an executive leadership consultant on the West Coast, advising clients of nationally known healthcare systems. Her previous experience also includes serving in leadership positions at metropolitan, academic and community hospital settings.
Thompson is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Perioperative Nurses and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She's also a member of the American Heart Association, the National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International, the national honor society for nursing.
Fuad Hammoudeh
Administrator, Cancer Programs – IU Health
Fuad Hammoudeh has more than 30 years of experience in senior positions with several healthcare organizations. He joined IU Health in March 2005 as administrator, Cancer Programs for IU Health. Hammoudeh’s responsibilities include the overall leadership and operational management of the cancer programs, strategic planning, and development of comprehensive cancer programs at IU Health and IU Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. In February 2007, he accepted the additional role as division administrator, Hematology/Oncology for Indiana University School of Medicine.
Before joining IU Health, Hammoudeh was the chief executive officer at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute. UTCI is a collaborative effort between the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Methodist University Hospital, one of the largest private practice oncology groups in the Memphis area to develop a comprehensive cancer program. Prior to 2002, he held various senior management positions with U.S. Oncology, a national oncology physician practice management company. From 1986 to 1994, he served as the CEO at Hancock Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Ind. Preceding his position at Hancock Memorial, Hammoudeh was the administrator at Jasper County Hospital in Rensselear, Ind.
Hammoudeh is a member of the IU Simon Cancer Center Executive Committee, Hoosier Oncology Group Board, Association of Cancer Executives Education Committee, Association of Community Cancer Centers Membership Committee and ITRAC Advisory Board. Other memberships in national health care organizations include American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Administrator of Internal Medicine and Medical Management Association; he is a Fellow with American College of Healthcare Executive. Hammoudeh is a recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor awarded by the governor of Indiana for distinguished service to the state.