UnityPoint Health Appoints CMO for Cardiovascular Services

The new role reflects the importance of aligning care delivery, performance improvement, and growth, the system CMO says.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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UnityPoint Health, a West Des Moines, Iowa-based health system, has appointed Peter George, MD, MBA, to serve as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for cardiovascular services. The creation of this new role underscores the system's focus on aligning care delivery, performance improvement, and growth across its cardiovascular service line.

Why it matters

The appointment of a dedicated CMO for cardiovascular services highlights UnityPoint Health's commitment to enhancing its cardiovascular care offerings, particularly in rural communities where access to specialized cardiac services can be limited. This move aims to ensure consistent, high-quality care for patients across the health system's network.

The details

As the new CMO for cardiovascular services, Dr. George will play a central role in establishing a comprehensive cardiovascular service line at UnityPoint Health. This will involve coordinating care across the system's hospitals, leveraging technology like telehealth to bridge gaps in rural areas, and focusing on improving the overall patient experience for those seeking cardiovascular care.

  • Dr. George was named as CMO for cardiovascular services at UnityPoint in December.

The players

Peter George, MD, MBA

The new Chief Medical Officer for cardiovascular services at UnityPoint Health.

Gregory Johnson, MD

The senior vice president and system Chief Medical Officer at UnityPoint Health.

UnityPoint Health

A West Des Moines, Iowa-based health system that has appointed a dedicated CMO for its cardiovascular services.

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What they’re saying

“We selected the title of CMO for cardiovascular services because it best reflects the strategic, systemwide scope that our system has chosen to model for our clinical leaders. The CMO designation underscores the importance of aligning care delivery, performance improvement, and growth across our organization, while also conveying immediate credibility with physicians and reinforcing leadership parity with our operational partners.”

— Gregory Johnson, MD, Senior Vice President and System Chief Medical Officer, UnityPoint Health (healthleadersmedia.com)

“Whether a patient receives care at one of our larger hospitals or a rural hospital, we want patients to receive the same kind of consistent care and high-quality care.”

— Peter George, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer for Cardiovascular Services, UnityPoint Health (healthleadersmedia.com)

What’s next

Dr. George plans to focus on building a comprehensive cardiovascular service line at UnityPoint Health, leveraging technology like telehealth to improve access to specialized cardiac care in rural communities.

The takeaway

UnityPoint Health's appointment of a dedicated Chief Medical Officer for cardiovascular services underscores the health system's commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality cardiac care across its network, including in underserved rural areas. This strategic move aims to align care delivery, performance improvement, and growth in the cardiovascular service line.